NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Early Retirement

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's staff have taken early retirement in each of the last five years; and at what cost to his Department in each such year.

Owen Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
	Since 12 April 2010, my Department has approved early retirement for two members of staff at a cost of £184,789.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Contracts

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what contracts his Department and its associated public bodies signed with Lockheed Martin in each of the last 10 years; and for what purposes each such contract was let.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not signed any contract with Lockheed Martin in the last 10 years.
	The Department does not collate this information for its arms length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executives of each body to write to the hon. Member for Wells. Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Local Government Finance

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much each local authority received from each  (a) revenue and  (b) capital funding stream from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding his Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms.

John Penrose: The only programme of grants the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) made to local authorities in 2010-11 was for the free swimming initiative, which was revenue funding. The grant allocations for the period from 1 April to 31 July 2010, when the scheme ended, totalled £11,316,665. A breakdown of amounts allocated by local authority can be found at the following link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/FS-Grant_determination2010-11-_final.pdf
	In 2011-12 DCMS will make annual private finance initiative (PFI) payments to local authorities totalling £18,462,200. These payments are classified as current year spending in the Department's budget. A breakdown of payments by local authority can be found in the table.
	PFI payments for earlier years were met from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Revenue Support Grant and not by DCMS. It is therefore not possible to provide real terms comparisons.
	
		
			  Local authority-Operational  2011-12 g rant (£) 
			 Amber Valley 1,260,088 
			 Bournemouth 1,254,181 
			 Breckland 700,863 
			 Brent 1,241,970 
			 Brighton 1,504,913 
			 Cornwall 603,606 
			 Leeds 2,321,097 
			 Lewisham 923,706 
			 Newcastle 3,208,148 
			 Oldham 1,803,457 
			 Rotherham 1,810,796 
			 Sefton 560,687 
			 Uttlesford 449,954 
			 Wolverhampton 818,733 
			   
			 Total 18,462,200

Departmental Official Cars

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010.

John Penrose: DCMS Ministers do not have the use of individual ministerial cars. Cars are booked through the Government Car and Despatch Agency when required.
	The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Minister  Date of last use of pool car  Number of times pool car used to travel to constituency 
			 Secretary of State 5 February 2011 0 
			 Minister for Sport and the Olympics 11 November 2010 2 
			 Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries 13 May 2010 0 
			 Minister for Tourism and Heritage No car used 0

Departmental Public Bodies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Design Council;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites;
	(4)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the UK Film Council;
	(5)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Theatres Trust;
	(6)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Public Lending Right;
	(7)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council;
	(8)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Legal Deposit Advisory Panel;
	(9)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Horserace Totalisator Board;
	(10)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Football Licensing Authority;
	(11)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Council on Libraries;
	(12)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of Visit England;
	(13)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of S4C;
	(14)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of the Horserace Betting Levy Board;
	(15)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of Sport England and UK Sport;
	(16)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission.

John Penrose: The reform of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) public bodies is part of a cross-Government drive to improve the accountability of public bodies and to seek to reduce their cost and number, with a view to simplifying the public bodies landscape.
	In view of the range of reforms that have been announced and the different periods over which they will be carried out, the benefits will be realised over different time scales, with some delivering net savings beyond the current spending review period.
	Estimated savings are in the following table. These estimates are subject to ongoing review as the final details of the implementation of the reforms are agreed.
	
		
			  ALB  Proposed reform  Savings anticipated 
			 S4C Amend current RPI/funding link DCMS savings of around £230 million are expected over the spending review period (including a transfer of funding of £152.3 million from the Exchequer to the television licence fee). 
			 Gambling Commission/National Lottery Commission Merge Reforms including co-location and merger are estimated to generate savings of approximately £600,000 to £900,000 per annum (Note: neither costs nor savings fall to the Exchequer). 
			 Horserace Betting Levy Board Modify functions to remove Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport's role in determining the levy No significant costs or savings anticipated for taxpayer, although costs of political lobbying to bookmaking and racing industries will reduce significantly. 
			 Football Licensing Authority Abolish current NDPB and transfer expertise and functions to another body No significant costs or savings anticipated. 
			 Horserace Totalisator Board Declassify and transfer from public ownership No administrative costs or savings to the Exchequer, but capital receipt expected from disposal. 
		
	
	For reforms relating to the UK Film Council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Public Lending Right, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Sport England and UK Sport the costs and benefits are subject to ongoing analysis and while we expect they will generate material savings no final figures are yet available.
	DCMS also has a number of advisory NDPBs that have either little or no associated costs. Reforms relating to these bodies will not therefore generate any significant savings, but likewise will be achieved at little or no cost. In some cases, such as the Theatres Trust, it is important to note that the bodies are not being abolished but will be declassified, as the NDPB status is not necessary for the body to carry out its functions. The correct proposed reforms for our advisory bodies listed are:
	Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships: No longer an NDPB-Declassify and transfer functions
	Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites: No longer an NDPB-Abolish and transfer functions in relation to England to English Heritage
	Advisory Council on Libraries: No longer an NDPB-Abolish body and functions
	Visit England: Retain-Modify constitution to increase representation of destinations on Visit England Board
	Theatres Trust: No longer an NDPB-Continue as a charity
	Legal Deposit Advisory Panel: No longer an NDPB-Abolish body and functions (was abolished in August 2010)

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London Underground and (ii) public bus services on government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: DCMS Ministers regularly travel by London Underground and public buses on Government business.
	Oyster cards are available for use by all the Department's Ministers but the number of journeys made by these forms of transport since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many of his ministerial team have been issued with  (a) an Oyster card and  (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on government business.

John Penrose: All Ministers within the Department have been provided with pay-as-you-go Oyster cards for use while travelling on Government business. No monthly or annual travel cards have been issued.

Gambling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether he has received representations from  (a) the gambling industry and  (b) GamCare on the administrative burden placed upon GamCare by the regime implemented by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and the Responsible Gambling Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has received representations from  (a) the gambling industry and  (b) GamCare on risks to GamCare's provision of treatment services attributable to the time taken to arrange funding;
	(3)  if he will review the  (a) cost to the public purse and  (b) administrative burden resulting from the creation of the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and the Responsible Gambling Fund to determine whether research, education and treatment in respect of problem gambling could be more effectively delivered through GamCare; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: Ministers have received representations from a number of interested parties about recent difficulties in resolving funding arrangements for some services to problem gamblers. This is a matter for the independent charities concerned, and for their respective Boards of Trustees where relevant. I understand that the immediate issues have now been resolved. I hope that the parties involved will continue to demonstrate their commitment to tackling problem gambling by working together constructively to agree a longer term solution. The current funding structure was established by the industry, in preference to a statutory levy, to try to ensure that industry donations are used to the best effect to reduce problem gambling levels. It does not involve public money, nor any publicly imposed administrative burdens.

Gambling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  under what powers the White List of approved gambling jurisdictions has been suspended;
	(2)  whether any applications have been made to join the White List of approved gambling jurisdictions since its suspension.

John Penrose: Section 331(4) of the Gambling Act 2005 enables the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to add jurisdictions to the 'white list' so that operators regulated in those countries can advertise gambling services in the UK. In 2009, the Department announced that new applications for the white list would not be considered while the regulation of remote gambling in Britain was being reviewed. That remains the position. I understand that some jurisdictions have expressed interest in being added to the white list, but no applications have been made. I hope to make an announcement on how the Government intend to proceed in due course.

Humanitarian Assistance

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff his Department's Humanitarian Assistance Unit employed in  (a) April 2010 and  (b) February 2011.

John Penrose: Within the Humanitarian Assistance Unit there were 4.0 FTE staff in April 2010 and 0.5 FTE staff in February 2011. This reduction reflects the improved capability at the local level to care for people after major emergencies. New Humanitarian Assistance guidance is available on the following webpage
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/humanitarian-assistance-emergencies
	with complementary best practice available on the Emergency Planning Society's website at
	http://www.the-eps.org

Plants

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment.

John Penrose: The Department has spent £1,859.37 on plants since the Secretary of State's appointment.

Royal Parks Agency

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the Royal Parks Agency is taking steps to address trends in acute oak decline in trees in Richmond Park.

John Penrose: The Royal Parks (TRP) is working with the Forestry Commission and other key agencies to address the problem of acute or chronic oak decline. TRP has put a strategy in place and allocated additional resource to help mitigate the impact in Richmond and Bushy parks.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Pay

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the post is of each person employed in the House of Commons Service with a salary higher than that of an hon. Member.

John Thurso: The basic salary payable to Members is £65,738 per annum as at 1 April 2011. At that date, 76 staff were paid an annual salary above this figure. A list of the posts in the Senior Commons Structure and at pay band A1, which have pay maxima higher than Members' current salary, will be placed in the Library. Details of the staff pay bands and staff pay arrangements are available on the parliamentary intranet.

Select Committees: Visits Abroad

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many overseas visits each select committee has made in the course of the present Parliament; and what cost to the House Service each committee has incurred on such visits.

John Thurso: The information on those Select Committees which have undertaken overseas visits in this present Parliament to date is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Select Committee overseas travel since May 2010 
			  Committee  Number of visits  Estimated costs (£) 
			 Business, Innovation and Skills 1 28,893 
			 Culture, Media and Sport 1 12,674 
			 Defence 3 40,564 
			 Education 2 17,061 
			 Energy and Climate Change 3 48,825 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2 5,202 
			 Environmental Audit 4 14,874 
			 European Scrutiny 4 14,272 
			 Foreign Affairs 3 77,767 
			 Home Affairs 1 11,320 
			 International Development 3 78,673 
			 Justice 1 426 
			 Northern Ireland Affairs 1 6,557 
			 Science and Technology 2 13,694 
			 Transport 2 8,613 
			 Treasury 1 32,260 
			 Welsh Affairs 1 6,384 
			 Work and Pensions 2 32,277 
			  Notes: 1. Some costs are provisional and subject to minor change owing to outstanding invoices. 2. Visits made in a representative capacity and those made to European institutions are included. 
		
	
	The remaining select committees have not undertaken any overseas visits.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Cold Weather Payments

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times the payment of a cold weather payment has been triggered for residents of Clwyd South constituency in the last five years.

Steve Webb: In 2010-11, Clwyd South constituency was linked to Hawarden airport, Lake Vyrnwy and Shawbury weather stations. In the previous four years, Clwyd South constituency, as it now is, was linked to Crosby, Lake Vyrnwy and Shawbury weather stations. Please find the information requested in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of cold weather payment triggers for residents of Clwyd South 
			  Weather station  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Hawarden Airport n/a n/a n/a n/a 4 
			 Lake Vyrnwy 0 1 3 4 5 
			 Shawbury 1 0 2 3 5 
			 Crosby 0 0 1 2 n/a 
			  Note:  A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode. (When the temperature criterion is met, the weather station is said to trigger.)  Sources:  (1) Postcode districts in Clwyd South: National Statistics Postcode Directory.  (2) Postcode district to weather station links: Department for Work and Pensions records.  (3) Records of triggers by weather station: Department for Work and Pensions records.

Crisis Loans

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) guidance and  (b) training his Department provides to staff on eligibility and processing of interim claims under the Social Security (Payment on Account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 1988 in respect of delayed crisis loans.

Steve Webb: Where a customer is in hardship due either to the time taken to process their benefit claim or to the fact that an emergency has arisen before their next payment is due, they may be able to get an interim payment or a Social Fund crisis loan. An interim payment is always considered in the first instance. Where either there is a doubt about entitlement or no benefit is due, for example at the beginning of a claim, a Social Fund crisis loan is appropriate. An interim payment is not appropriate for a delayed crisis loan because interim payments are made in recognition of the fact that benefit will ultimately be payable for the period in question.
	Training for the administration of interim payments is included in the new entrant learning for a benefit delivery processor dealing with claims to income support (IS), jobseekers allowance (JSA) and employment support allowance (ESA), supported by links to the relevant guidance. This training provides an awareness of the interim payment process and includes the priorities for an interim payment and a crisis loan, the action to take on entitlement, and the action to take when the customer does not qualify for an interim payment. The training for these types of payments across the three benefits also includes the detailed processes and actions to take within prescribed time limits to ensure the accuracy of an interim payment.

Crisis Loans

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy was on payment of more than three crisis loans in one year to a claimant prior to the implementation of the cap on the number of awards from April 2011.

Steve Webb: There was no limit on the number of crisis loans that could be awarded prior to 4 April 2011. However (excluding alignment requests to an initial benefit payment or wages) face to face interviews were introduced on 30 October 2009 for customers applying for their third and subsequent living expense crisis loan in a 12 month rolling period.

Departmental Contracts

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contracts his Department and its associated public bodies signed with Lockheed Martin in each of the last 10 years; and for what purposes each such contract was let.

Chris Grayling: There are no records of contracts with the Department and its associated public bodies with Lockheed Martin within the last 10 years.

Departmental Public Bodies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of the Health and Safety Executive.

Chris Grayling: On 16 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 9-10WS, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), issued a written ministerial statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.
	The Health and Safety Executive is not subject to any functional changes or associated savings arising from the public bodies reform programme. However, I estimate overall savings of £233 million over the 2010 spending review period against its 2010-11 baseline.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on consultancy since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: DWP has spent £30.5 million on consultancy since May 2010 until December 2010.
	Of this figure, £13.5 million was management consultancy and £17million was IT consultancy.
	Of the £13.5 million management consultancy figure, £80,000 was entered into after May 2010.
	We are unable to break down the IT consultancy figure as this information is not held centrally and could only be gathered at a cost.
	Consultancy spend for the period May 2009 to December 2009 was £42.7 million. Spend has, therefore, reduced by 29%.
	In common with all Government Departments, DWP is subject to a freeze on consultancy engagements. All requests for consultancy procurement are challenged to ensure that the work is essential and cannot be performed by existing staff and all requests for new contracts (and extensions to existing contracts) over £20,000 have to be approved at ministerial level.

Departmental Redundancy

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in his Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Department has run three voluntary early release programmes during 2010-11. Each has been subject to a formal value for money business case for approval.
	The first group of staff offered early release were administrative assistants, our most junior grade, who were surplus or at risk of becoming surplus as a result of the introduction of new technology and business processes. There were 245 offers made with 178 accepted.
	The second and third group of staff have largely been in managerial and specialist grades in departmental and Agency corporate functions. Staffing in these areas has been reduced as part of ongoing efficiencies.
	In the second exercise 405 offers were made 316 of which were accepted. The third exercise is currently in progress. To date 1,287 offers have been made to applicants with a deadline for acceptance of 31 March 2011.

Housing Benefit

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single people aged between 25 and 34 are claiming the one bedroom local housing allowance rate in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) broad rental market area.

Steve Webb: The Department published the 'Two Year Review of the Local Housing Allowance' in February 2011, which includes the current caseload proportions claiming the one bedroom local housing allowance rate, in figure 2.11. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
	The Department plans to publish an Equality Impact Assessment for the shared accommodation rate changes within the next two months, to accompany the draft regulations. This will contain estimates of the numbers of single housing benefit claimants between the ages of 25 and 34 who will be affected by these changes.

Housing Benefit: Motherwell

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit was paid to claimants in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the level of such payments.

Steve Webb: Final housing benefit expenditure data for 2010-11 is currently unavailable, and information on expenditure at a parliamentary constituency level is not held.
	In 2009-10, total housing benefit expenditure in the North Lanarkshire local authority was £100.6 million. If its share of national spending remained constant, North Lanarkshire would pay out around £109 million in housing benefit in 2010-11. These figures are based on our Budget 2011 housing benefit expenditure forecasts.
	A breakdown of 2009-10 housing benefit expenditure can be found at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/h_tables_budget2010.xls

Jobseeker's Allowance: Fraud

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has recovered from payments of fraudulent claims for  (a) jobseeker's allowance and  (b) employment and support allowance in each of the last two years.

Chris Grayling: Details of recoveries of overpayments classified as due to fraud for jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance are in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Jobseeker's allowance  Employment and support allowance( 1) 
			 2008-09 3,425,831 0 
			 2009-10 3,621,776 607 
			 2010-11(2) 3,435,008 12,941 
			 (1) Low recovery rates reflect the fact that ESA is a relatively recent benefit (introduced in October 2008) and that fraud debts can only be classified as such following lengthy investigations which result in a conviction or admission of the offence. (2) April 2010 to February 2011 inclusive.  Source: The figures provided are from Shared Services Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system and are subject to rounding. The figures are Management Information (MI) collected for the purpose of routine administration, and therefore have not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance that is applied to DWP official statistics. 
		
	
	In cases where the customer has been overpaid but not been convicted or admitted the offence, the debt will be classified as customer error, and debt recovery pursued as such.
	The total recovered from overpayments of all benefits and pensions that arose due to fraud or customer error are listed in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 193.2 
			 2009-10 205.1 
			  Source: The figures provided are from Shared Services Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system and are subject to rounding. The figures are Management Information (MI) collected for the purpose of routine administration, and therefore have not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance that is applied to DWP official statistics.

Pensioners: Northern Ireland

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Northern Ireland he estimates are affected by the administrative error identified by the National Pension Centre concerning the additional pension component of the state pension.

Steve Webb: This is a matter for the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland.

Pensions

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the nature is of the administrative error that the National Pension Centre has identified concerning the additional pension component of the State Pension.

Steve Webb: Work is being carried out to correct errors in the calculation of additional state pension identified as part of the Cabinet Office investigation into the incorrect indexation of guaranteed minimum pensions in Public Sector Pension schemes. Our conclusion is that the errors which affect payments in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have arisen due to a wide variety of reasons and there is no single causal factor.

Pensions: Females

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women who will have their state pension age increased by 18 months or more as a result of his proposed change in the state pension age for women.

Steve Webb: Estimates of the number of women affected by the proposed changes to the state pension age were published in the equality impact assessment that accompanied the Pensions Bill 2011. Around 300,000 women in Great Britain, born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954, will have their state pension age increased by 18 months or longer.

Pensions: Females

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average monetary value of pension payments which will not be paid to women born between December 1953 and October 1954 as a result of his proposed change in the state pension age for women.

Steve Webb: The effect of these changes is complex and will vary significantly from person to person. Moreover, because of the revision in life expectancy projections, these women will, on average, be getting their state pension for about the same length of time (24 years), and will be receiving around the same amount of state pension over their lifetime, as the previous life expectancy projections implied under a lower state pension age.
	Many of these women will remain in employment, and could therefore benefit from additional earnings and from additional accrual of pension rights. Government will also be supporting those unable to remain in employment through in-work benefits.

Pregnant Women: Grants

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether advice and information on Sure Start maternity grants for second and third children is still being provided to eligible mothers.

Maria Miller: Advice and information on Sure Start maternity grants remains available to eligible mothers for second or subsequent children, and DWP leaflets have been updated to reflect the recent changes to the eligibility conditions.

Pregnant Women: Grants

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Sure Start maternity grants were awarded in respect of second and third children in  (a) March 2011 and  (b) March 2010.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available. We are not able to identify if an award for a Sure Start maternity grant has been made in respect of a second or third child.

Social Security Benefits

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Poole constituency have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for  (a) more than one year and  (b) more than five years.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Claimants of out-of-work benefits by duration in Poole parliamentary constituency, August 2010 
			   JSA  ESA and incapacity benefits  IS/PC 
			 All durations 1,270 3,200 1,230 
			 Duration of up to one year 1,090 530 420 
			 Duration of one year up to five years 180 880 590 
			 Duration of over five years (1)- 1,790 210 
			 (1) Nil or negligible.  Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. For example, a claimant of disability living allowance and jobseeker's allowance would appear in "jobseeker", not in "disabled". 3. Out-of-work benefits are: JSA-claimants of jobseeker's allowance. ESA and incapacity benefits-claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance/employment and support allowance. IS/PC-claimants of income support (and males age 60 to 64 claiming pension credit) that are not also claiming IB/SDA. 4. Durations shown are the longest claim duration of the benefits of interest.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  in what proportion of the National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed in each of the last five years  (a) claims were found to be fraudulent,  (b) claimants were found to be claiming erroneously and  (c) callers were found to be mendacious;
	(2)  how many open cases the National Benefit Fraud Hotline has in the  (a) Fraud Investigation Service and  (b) Customer Compliance Unit; and how many cases it has closed in each of the last five years.

Chris Grayling: The number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases open at the end of February 2011 was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Fraud Investigation Service 22,554 
			 Customer Compliance 27,567 
		
	
	Information is not available from 2005-07. Information from 2007-08 is incomplete due to administrative changes.
	The following table provides available information relating to the number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed in the last three years which resulted in a fraud sanction being applied or an error being corrected.
	
		
			   Total number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed by Fraud Investigation Service  Total number of these cases receiving a sanction  Proportion (%)  Total number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed by Customer Compliance  Total number of these cases where error found  Proportion (%) 
			 2007-08 5,082 851 17 9,932 4,404 44 
			 2008-09 23,873 4190 18 54,991 9,146 17 
			 2009-10 27,299 3360 12 60,105 8,053 15 
			  Notes: Information has been extracted from the Fraud Referral and Interventions Management Systems (FRAIMS). Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole figure. 
		
	
	The Department is not in a position to judge whether members of the public make mendacious calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline and therefore does not collect information which would enable it to establish such cases.

Social Security Benefits: Motherwell

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit was paid to claimants in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the level of payments in 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: Benefit expenditure data for 2010-11 and forecasts for 2011-12 are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	Benefit expenditure for Motherwell and Wishaw parliamentary constituency in 2009-10 is shown in the following table for all benefit data that are available at parliamentary constituency level:
	
		
			  Motherwell and Wishaw constituency expenditure 
			  2009-10  £ million 
			 Attendance allowance 11.6 
			 Bereavement benefit/widow's benefit 1.1 
			 Carer's allowance 3.1 
			 Disability living allowance 28.6 
			 Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance 19.4 
			 Income support 18.4 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 8.3 
			 Pension credit 18.8 
			 State pension 94.6 
			 Winter fuel payments 4.0 
			 Employment and support allowance 3.2 
			 Total expenditure 211.0 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 100,000. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source: DWP statistical and accounting data. 
		
	
	Tables containing benefit expenditure by benefit, local authority and parliamentary constituency can be found at the following URL:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure

Unemployment Benefits

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency were in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than  (a) one and  (b) five years on the latest date for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is given as follows.
	
		
			  Claimants of out of work benefits by duration in Bexley Heath and Crayford parliamentary constituency-August 2010 
			   JSA  ESA and incapacity benefits  IS/PC 
			 All durations 1,750 2,770 1,630 
			 Duration of up to 1 year 1,460 510 440 
			 Duration of 1 year up to 5 years 280 800 740 
			 Duration of over 5 years 10 1,450 450 
			  Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest ten and totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. For example, a claimant of disability living allowance and jobseeker's allowance would appear in "Job Seeker", not in "Disabled". 3. Out of work benefits are: JSA-claimants of jobseeker's allowance. ESA and incapacity benefits-claimants of Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance/employment and support allowance. IS/PC-claimants of income support (and males age 60-64 claiming pension credit) that are not also claiming IB/SDA. 4. Durations shown are the longest claim duration of the benefits of interest.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Unemployment: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of workless households in  (a) the north east,  (b) Teesside and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency which will no longer be workless following implementation of his proposed welfare reforms.

Chris Grayling: The Government have a broad range of measures designed to help people into work such as 'Get Britain Working', the Work Programme and universal credit. As set out in the White Paper 'Universal Credit: Welfare that Works', we estimate that universal credit will reduce the number of workless households by about 300,000.
	We do not have separate estimates of the impact on worklessness by region and constituency.

Universal Credit

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011,  Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, if he will estimate the number of families with annual incomes between  (a) £16,000 and £17,000,  (b) £17,000 and £18,000,  (c) £18,000 and £19,000,  (d) £19,000 and £20,000,  (e) £20,000 and £21,000,  (f) £21,000 and £22,000,  (g) £22,000 and £23,000 and  (h) £23,000 and £24,000 which will have (i) a lower and (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in steady state; and what the average change in incomes will be for families in each group attributable to the change in entitlement.

Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (i) a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger income groups. Income is defined as income net of tax.
	
		
			  Annual income  (i) Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit  Average weekly change in entitlement (£) 
			 £16,000 up to £20,000 200,000 -13 
			 £20,000 to up £24,000 200,000 -20 
			 Total 400,000 -19 
			  Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
	The following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger income groups. Income is defined as income net of tax.
	
		
			  Annual income  (ii) Number that have a higher entitlement under universal credit  Average weekly change in entitlement (£) 
			 £16,000 up to £20,000 400,000 28 
			 £20,000 to up £24,000 600,000 24 
			 Total 900,000 25 
			  Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Universal Credit

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011,  Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, in how many families with savings  (a) between £16,000 and £20,000,  (b) between £20,000 and £25,000,  (c) between £25,000 and £30,000 and  (d) £30,000 and above will have a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in steady state; and what the average loss in incomes will be for families in each group attributable to this lower entitlement.

Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department's Policy Simulation Model, of the number of families that will have a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings groups.
	
		
			  Savings  Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit  Average weekly change in entitlement (£) 
			 £16,000 up to £30,000 (1)- (1)- 
			 £30,000 and above 100,000 -49 
			 Total 100,000 -52 
			 (1) Denotes a caseload of less than 50,000. Average weekly change in entitlement can not be provided due to small caseload sizes.  Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.

Universal Credit

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011,  Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, how many families with savings between  (a) £6,000 and £7,000,  (b) £7,000 and £8,000,  (c) £8,000 and £9,000,  (d) £9,000 and £10,000,  (e) £10,000 and £11,000,  (f) £11,000 and £12,000,  (g) £12,000 and £13,000,  (h) £13,0000 and £14,000,  (i) £14,000 and £15,000 and  (j) £15,000 and £16,000 will have (i) a lower and (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in steady state; and what the average change in income will be for families in each group attributable to the change in entitlement.

Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (i) a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings group.
	
		
			  Savings  (i) Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit  Average weekly change in entitlement (£) 
			 £6,000 up to £11,000 100,000 -14 
			 £11,000 up to £16,000 100,000 -27 
			 Total 100,000 -19 
			  Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
	The following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings group.
	
		
			  Savings  (ii) Number that have a higher entitlement under universal credit  Average weekly change in entitlement (£) 
			 £6,000 up to £11,000 100,000 20 
			 £11,000 to up £16,000 (1)- (1)- 
			 Total 100,000 21 
			 (1) Denotes a caseload of less than 50,000. Average weekly change in entitlement can not be provided due to small caseload sizes.  Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Winter Fuel Payments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of provision of winter fuel allowance to those  (a) aged 60 to 79 at the rate of (i) £200 and (ii) £250 per year and  (b) aged 80 or over at the rate of (A) £300 and (B) £400 per year in (1) Brighton Pavilion constituency and (2) the City of Brighton and Hove in each of the next four calendar years.

Steve Webb: The information is not available as requested. Forecasts of winter fuel payments are made on financial years rather than calendar years.
	The information that is available is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Brighton Pavilion constituency 
			Winter fuel payment expenditure (£ millions, in-year prices) 
			  Winter fuel payment rates  Age group  2011 - 12  2012 - 13  2013 - 14  2014 - 15 
			 £200 / £300 79 and under 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 
			  80 and over 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			  All ages 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 
			   
			 £250 / £400 79 and under 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 
			  80 and over 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 
			  All ages 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Brighton and Hove local authority 
			Winter fuel payment expenditure (£ millions, in-year prices) 
			  Winter fuel payment rates  Age group  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14  2014-15 
			 £200 / £300 79 and under 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 
			  80 and over 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.1 
			  All ages 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.0 
			   
			 £250 / £400 79 and under 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3 
			  80 and over 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.1 
			  All ages 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.5 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure on winter fuel payments is rounded to the nearest £100,000. Age breakdowns may not sum to totals due to rounding. 2. Expenditure on the "79 and under" age group includes payments to people over women's state pension age, which is increasing from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018. People under women's state pension age (both men and women) are not eligible for winter fuel payments. 3. Projections of winter fuel payments on a constituency and local authority level use latest administrative data to apportion total Great Britain (GB) expenditure over the requested geography. Therefore they do not allow for potentially different trends between these geographical units and Great Britain overall. 4. GB forecasts of winter fuel payments are consistent with Budget 2011 forecasts.  Source: Budget 2011 forecasts and projections based on DWP statistical data.

Winter Fuel Payments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in expenditure he expects to result from implementation of his proposed changes to winter fuel payments in the winter 2011-12.

Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments for winter 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women's state pension age and is under 80 and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government.
	An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid for the last three winters, taking the rates to £250 for households with someone who had reached women's state pension age and was under 80 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
	It is estimated that making winter fuel payments in 2011-12 as planned would cost around £590 million less than if the additional amounts were to continue.

Winter Fuel Payments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to his Department of retaining the winter fuel payment at the enhanced rate for households in receipt of pension credit in the winter of 2011-12.

Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments for winter 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women's state pension age and is under 80 and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government.
	An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid for the last three winters, taking the rates to £250 for households with someone who had reached women's state pension age and was under 80 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
	It is estimated that making the additional payment on 2011-12 to households that are in receipt of pension credit would increase the winter fuel payment expenditure by around £160 million.

Winter Fuel Payments

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure pensioners are aware of the planned withdrawal of the top-up payment to the winter fuel allowance.

Steve Webb: There is no change to the standard rate of winter fuel payment. The previous Government always made it clear that the additional amount of £50 or £100 was a temporary increase to the winter fuel payment for winter 2010-11.
	Details of the eligibility criteria and the payment rates can be found on the Direct Gov website. Everybody who is due to receive a winter fuel payment will get a letter advising them when their payment is being made and how much it is.

Winter Fuel Payments

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid out in winter fuel allowances awarded to residents of Clwyd South in the winter of 2010-11; and what forecast he has made of the equivalent figure in 2011-12.

Steve Webb: Actual expenditure on winter fuel payments for 2010-11 is not yet available. In 2009-10, the last year for which information is available, expenditure on winter fuel payments in Clwyd South was £3.4 million.
	Forecasts for benefit expenditure are not produced below Great Britain level. However, if the Clwyd South share of spending in 2009-10 was maintained in 2010-11 and 2011-12 spending would be £3.4 million and £2.6 million respectively.
	 Notes:
	(1) Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand pounds.
	(2) We do not forecast winter fuel payment expenditure at a constituency level. Projections of winter fuel payments at this level use the latest administrative data to apportion forecast total winter fuel payment expenditure over the requested area.
	(3) An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid in 2009-10 and 2010-11, providing rates of £250 for households with someone who had reached women's state pension age and was under 80 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Winter fuel payments for 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women's state pension age and is under 80 and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, as budgeted for by the previous Government, decreasing winter fuel payment expenditure for this year compared to the previous years.
	 Source:
	Budget 2011 forecasts and DWP statistical data.

Winter Fuel Payments

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people over the age of 80 and resident in Clwyd South constituency received a winter fuel allowance in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many pensioners resident in Clwyd South constituency received winter fuel allowance in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information is available in the document Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp

Winter Fuel Payments

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency over the age of 80 received winter fuel allowance payments in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information is available in the document Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page-wfp.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes to winter fuel payments on the future level of excess winter deaths; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments are one part of the overall Government programme to support vulnerable groups in winter. For winter 2011-12, most people who have reached women's state pension age will receive a winter fuel payment of either £200 or £300 depending on their household circumstances. The winter fuel payment remains a significant contribution to an older person's winter fuel costs.
	Targeted help for vulnerable groups is provided through cold weather payments-which the coalition Government has permanently increased from £8.50 a week to £25 a week. Cold weather payments provide real help to those most vulnerable to the cold i.e. disabled adults and children; the elderly and families with children under five who are in receipt of an income related benefit. They are paid when the average temperature where a customer lives is 0° C or below for seven consecutive days. This winter over 17 million cold weather payments have been paid in Great Britain worth an estimated £430 million.
	In addition, subject to parliamentary approval, from winter 2011-12 some of the poorest pensioners would get direct assistance with their energy costs through a rebate off their electricity bills under the Warm Home Discount scheme. Rebates would be at least £120.
	The programme of support for vulnerable groups also includes the annual seasonal influenza vaccination programme which offers free flu jabs to people most at risk from potentially life-threatening complications of flu. The Government ran a new website service, Winter Watch, as well as its annual Keep Warm Keep Well Campaign for 2010/11 to provide advice on staying warm over the winter and staying in touch with people who may be vulnerable during cold weather, including the elderly, in order to reduce illness and deaths.

Winter Fuel Payments: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Warrington North constituency aged  (a) under and  (b) over 80 years receive winter fuel allowance.

Steve Webb: The information is available in the document Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Housing

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on improvements to armed forces' accommodation  (a) nationally and  (b) in Poole constituency in each year since 2005.

Andrew Robathan: Under a £1.4 billion programme, some 60,000 new or improved single living accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces are due to be delivered between 2003 and 2013, subject to funding considerations. As the programme is being delivered through various initiatives across the Department, (including private finance initiative projects where SLA improvements are only one element of the work), exact expenditure by year cannot be separately identified without disproportionate effort and cost.
	The following has been spent in each of the last five financial years upgrading and improving service family accommodation (SFA) in Great Britain:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend £ million 
			 2005-06 32.4 
			 2006-07 14.7 
			 2007-08 64 
			 2008-09 56.1 
			 2009-10 76.7 
		
	
	In the Poole constituency, the following was spent on new or improved SLA at Royal Marines Poole in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend in £ thousands 
			 2005-06 3,201 
			 2006-07 754 
			 2007-08 433 
			 2008-09 81 
			 2009-10 92 
		
	
	Some £550,000 was spent on bathroom and heating improvements to 68 SFA properties in the Poole constituency in financial year 2009-10. No similar expenditure was incurred in the four preceding years.

Departmental Contracts

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of his Department's contracts by  (a) value and  (b) number were placed (i) directly and (ii) through sub-contracts with small and medium-sized enterprises in each year since 2005;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the prime defence contractors implement Government proposals that 25 per cent. of contracts should be placed with small and medium-sized enterprises.

Peter Luff: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an essential role to Defence as prime-contractors, subcontractors and lower-tier suppliers and we fully recognise and value the contribution that SMEs make at all levels.
	Approximately 95% of Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts are managed through our central contract processes. These define a SME as a company with fewer than 250 employees. The following table shows the number of contracts let directly by MOD to SMEs in each year since financial year 2005-06.
	
		
			  Year ending 31 March  Proportion of procurement contracts awarded to SMEs (%)  Proportion by value of procurement contracts awarded to SMEs (%) 
			 2005-06 47 10 
			 2006-07 46 3 
			 2007-08 46 4 
			 2008-09 48 5 
			 2009-10 45 10 
		
	
	The smaller proportion of contracts by value in the three years from 2006-07 reflects the award of a few very large contracts to non-SMEs. However, these large contracts will themselves have generated significant business for SMEs as subcontractors. Indeed, the figures shown above are all under-representative of the total number of contracts placed with SMEs throughout the supply chain.
	The December 2010 Green Paper entitled "Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security" includes a section which discusses ways in which the MOD might make procurement easier and improve access to Defence contract opportunities for SMEs at both prime and subcontract level. The three-month consultation completed on 31 March 2011 and we are taking account of views received in formulating a White Paper, which will be published later this year and set out the changes we intend to introduce.
	But we are not waiting for this to deepen engagement with SMEs. We are already taking effective steps to bring innovative ideas from SMEs into Defence through the Centre for Defence Enterprise. The first meeting of a new forum for SMEs under the auspices of the Defence Suppliers Forum is also being held this week.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies, interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: This information could be provided only for the Department as a whole at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has a Welsh language scheme which obliges us to provide interpretation facilities should there be a requirement. The provision of these facilities is the responsibility of the areas organising the events and therefore this information is not held centrally.

Departmental Official Cars

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a Ministerial car since May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: As set out in the Ministerial Code, Ministers are permitted to use an official car for official business and for journeys between home arid office, within reasonable distance of London, where they would normally be carrying classified papers on which they would be working. The number of such journeys is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Minister  Date last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity  Number of times travelled to own constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010 
			 Secretary of State for Defence(1) (Dr Liam Fox) n/a n/a 
			 Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey) 30 March 2011 0 
			 Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Peter Luff) 28 March 2011 10 
			 Minister for International Security Strategy (Gerald Howarth) 30 March 2011 5 
			 Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) 23 March 2011 0 
			 Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) 25 March 2011 0 
			 (1) The Metropolitan police orchestrate such travel for the Secretary of State for Defence.

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Ministerial team have been issued with  (a) an Oyster card and  (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on government business.

Andrew Robathan: None of the Ministry of Defence's ministerial team have been issued with either an Oyster card, a monthly or an annual travel card that is paid for by the Department.

Departmental Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have applied for early release as part of the reduction of civil service numbers in his Department.

Andrew Robathan: The Department launched a voluntary early release scheme on 28 February with a target of releasing 4,000 staff by 31 March 2012. The total number of applications received by the closing date was 13,832.

Departmental Secondment

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of his Department have been  (a) seconded and  (b) attached or on loan to Defence Equipment and Support Project teams in its prime contractors since 2005.

Peter Luff: According to the Ministry of Defence's human resources system, 13 staff from Defence Equipment and Support have had secondments with the private sector since 2008; four staff are currently on secondment. Those secondments began in the following years:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008 1 
			 2009 9 
			 2010 3 
			 2011 0 
		
	
	Information about numbers on secondment was not held centrally before December 2007.
	Information is not held centrally about the whether the companies to whom these secondments were made were prime contractors. I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

Ex-servicemen: Poole

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to veterans in Poole constituency.

Andrew Robathan: The Government provide a comprehensive programme of support for ex-service personnel across the UK. This includes an excellent resettlement package for service personnel returning to civilian life; high quality pension and compensation schemes; and measures to meet veterans' health and welfare needs. Our commitment to rebuilding the Armed Forces Covenant reinforces this and will set the tone for Government policy aimed at improving the support available for the armed forces community. Recent initiatives include providing improved support for ex-service personnel to study at university and creating 'Troops to Teachers', a programme to recruit ex-service personnel into the teaching profession, and measures to improve services for those who may suffer from mental health problems.

Libya

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan government and combatants who have previously fought against coalition forces in Iraq;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan government and terrorist groups proscribed  (a) in the UK and  (b) overseas;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan government and persons who  (a) are fighting and  (b) have previously fought against NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
	We are in dialogue with the Interim National Council (INC) and other elements of the opposition inside and outside Libya. We are convinced that political reform in Libya is necessary, that the Gaddafi regime has lost all legitimacy, and that the Libyan people have clearly indicated their desire for change. But the form of any political settlement is for the Libyan people themselves to decide. We support the efforts of the INC to prepare for a more democratic and accountable government in Libya. Their announcement of a political programme was an important first step in that process.
	We have no details of the involvement in the Libyan internal opposition movement of individuals with a background in violent political activities or international terrorism in Afghanistan or Iraq, or of membership of proscribed terrorist organisations. We have been clear that it is essential that the Libyan opposition ensure that they are not infiltrated by Al-Qaeda. It is clear from our engagement with the INC that that they are sincere in their wish for an inclusive, democratic Libya which rejects extremism, as shown by their manifesto and public statements rejecting extremist ideas, and committing to combating them in all circumstances and implementing UN Security Council Resolutions on counter-terrorism.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of depleted uranium weapons; and how that policy  (a) is applied to and  (b) will apply in operations in Libya.

Liam Fox: The Government's policy is that depleted uranium (DU) can be used within weapons. It is not prohibited under current or likely future international agreements. The UK's armed forces use all munitions in accordance with international humanitarian law. It would be quite wrong to deny our serving personnel a legitimate and effective capability.
	The only DU munition in service with our armed forces is the Charm 3 antitank round fired from the Challenger 2 tank. With no deployed ground forces it follows that none of the weapons supplied to UK armed forces for uses over Libya contain DU.
	Other nations may choose to use DU munitions fired from aircraft guns against armoured targets if they have that capability but that is a choice for them alone to make.

Nuclear Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether reactors on Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines in service have  (a) systems for safety injection of coolant into the reactor pressure vessel head and  (b) passive core cooling systems;
	(2)  what advice he has received from the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator on the need for  (a) systems for safety injection of coolant into the reactor pressure vessel head and  (b) passive core cooling systems on submarine reactors in order to reduce risks to the level of as low as reasonably practicable;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library an unredacted copy of the note of 6 November 2009 entitled Safety Regulators' advice on the selection of the propulsion plant in support of the future deterrent review;
	(4)  what reasons the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator gave for his assessment on the adequacy of benchmarked relevant good practices of UK submarine reactor designs in respect of  (a) the control of submarine depth and  (b) a loss of coolant accident.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the assessment of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator on  (a) loss of depth control and  (b) loss of coolant accidents on Vanguard-class submarines.

Peter Luff: All submarines in service with the Royal Navy have passive core cooling capability and the ability to add coolant into the reactor pressure vessel if necessary.
	The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR)'s assessment and advice was given in the document 'Safety Regulators' advice on the selection of the propulsion plant in support of the future deterrent review'.
	Some information within this document has been withheld because its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces; prejudice relations between the UK and another state and prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. For these reasons I do not intend to release an un-redacted copy. A redacted copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The standards set for the safety of nuclear reactors are extremely high, and DNSR's assessment is that they are met by all the reactors used by the Royal Navy. Nevertheless, we are always seeking to better our safety performance, and improvements are made where necessary and practicable.

Nuclear Submarines

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on which occasions each Minister of State in his Department was present to welcome returning submariners following a tour of duty of a Vanguard-class submarine in each year between 1996 and 2000;
	(2)  on which occasions each Minister of State in his Department was present to welcome submariners returning to port following a tour of duty of a Vanguard-class submarine in each year from 2001 to 2004.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) on 18 March 2011,  Official Report, column 678W. Centralised records have only been held since December 2004 and information prior to then could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any grants or contracts have been awarded to external bodies to assist schools seeking to convert to academy status since May 2010.

Michael Gove: holding answer 4 February 2011
	I can confirm that since May 2010, grants and contracts have been awarded to external bodies to assist the development of sponsored academies which generally replace underperforming schools.
	Contracts are awarded through an established framework to procure project management and educational services needed by academies in their pre-opening development phase. The value of contracts varies according to the needs of the project.
	Grant funding can be paid to academy trusts who undertake themselves the pre-opening project management and educational services needed by academy projects rather than appoint a commercial project management company.
	Since May 2010, 20 projects have been approved and therefore eligible for funding. Of those, grant payments have been made to one project and contracts entered into for five totalling £2,358,766.

Academies: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Academy schools have been assessed as having received an over-payment of grant; and what the amount concerned was in each such case.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 24 January 2011
	 Eight academies have been assessed as having received an overpayment of grant in the past. The details are in the following table:
	
		
			  Academy  Over the academic years  Overpayment (£) 
			 Westminster Academy 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10 1,721,328 
			 Paddington Academy 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10 2,003,481 
			 Pimlico Academy 2008/09, 2009/10 1,999,587 
			 City Academy, Norwich 2009/10 479,330 
			 Marlowe Academy, Kent 2006/07, 2007/08 984,000 
			 Dixons City Academy, Bradford 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 720,000 
			 Capital City Academy, Willesden 2007/08, 2008/09 308,000 
			 Langley Academy, Berkshire 2008/09 482,000 
		
	
	The overpayments were caused by a mix of administrative errors in relation to either the calculation of their grant, incorrect information from the academy or error in the local authority budget statement which forms the basis of the grant calculation. In each case action has been taken to manage the overpayment that reflects the overall financial position of the academy.

Academies: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what local authority central spend equivalent grant allocation has been made to each academy school for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 February 2011
	This information is not currently available for all academies. The Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) is currently in the process of calculating allocations for academies for academic year 2011/12.
	The table showing the local authority central spend equivalent grant (LACSEG), allocations for those academies that have received final funding letters which YPLA started to issue from 29 March has been placed in the House Libraries. These academies have until the end of April to challenge the grant allocation and the basis on which it is calculated.
	The remaining grant allocations will be dispatched by YPLA before the end of May 2011. A full breakdown of LACSEG allocations for academy schools in academic year 2011/12 will be available in August 2012. This will include allocations for the remaining academy schools due to convert or open in the current academic year as well as those opening or converting in 2011/12.

Apprentices

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the number of apprenticeship places for 16 to 18-year-olds.

John Hayes: In the 16-19 Funding Statement, published in December 2010, we increased funding for 16-18 apprenticeships in order to have sufficient funding in place to have 131,200 apprentice starts in 2010/11 and 133,500 in 2011/12 (academic years). This represents significant growth in the programme; in 2009/10, 116,800 16 to 18-year-olds started apprenticeship frameworks.
	Our investment in future years will reflect the value we place on apprenticeships as a key route for Raising the Participation Age for learning, due to commence in 2013.

Apprentices: Greater London

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of people aged 16 to 18 years beginning apprenticeships in the  (a) London borough of Camden and  (b) London borough of Brent in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

John Hayes: The Government are strongly committed to investment in apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds, which is why we have an ambitious planning assumption of 131,000 apprenticeships for 2010/11 which allows for significant growth. The apprenticeship budget for the 2010-11 financial year is £780 million for 16 to 18-year-olds.
	We want to see continued growth in the number of young people undertaking an apprenticeship, which is why funding for 16-18 apprenticeships will increase to £799 million in 2011-12, £19 million more than for 2010-11. This will provide funding for more than 133,000 starts for 16 to 18-year-olds.
	The Apprenticeships Programme is demand led. Government do not plan apprenticeship places by local authority area. Government provide funding to the Skills Funding Agency on a national basis and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system. The National Apprenticeship Service works with local providers and employers in the London borough of Camden and the London borough of Brent to make apprenticeship places available where there is demand.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with Liverpool city council on progress on projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme in Liverpool.

Michael Gove: holding answer 18 October 2010
	On 28 July 2010 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, my noble Friend (Lord Hill) met councillors Joe Anderson and Paula Keaveney, accompanied by the hon. Members for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg) and Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger). They discussed options for capital investment in Liverpool's secondary schools. On 6 August 2010, Enterprise South Liverpool Academy was among those for which the Secretary of State announced allocations of capital. The De La Salle Academy was notified of its capital allocation on 20 December 2010.
	On 28 March 2011, the Minister for Schools, the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), visited St John Bosco School accompanied by councillor Joe Anderson and the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby to observe the issues requiring investment and hear about proposals for addressing these issues.

Children: Disadvantaged

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed bursary scheme on the number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds remaining in education; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We are committed to ensuring that all young people continue in education or training post-16. We are investing nearly £15 million in providing a bursary of £1,200 a year to the most vulnerable young people, such as those in care and those receiving income support-more than they would have received under the old system. The remainder of the 16-19 Bursary Fund-some £165 million a year-will go into discretionary funds that schools and colleges can use in ways that best fit the circumstances and needs of their students, for example, to provide help with books, meals, transport or other course-related costs.
	While actual payments will reflect need, by way of illustration the 16-19 Bursary Fund is sufficient to provide a bursary of £800 a year to 15% of all 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education and training-more than covering those who were in receipt of free school meals in year 11.
	A full equality impact assessment has been published and is available on the Department's website at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/ema%20replacement%20scheme.pdf
	A copy has also been placed in the House Libraries.

Children's Centres

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Sure Start places were provided in  (a) Brighton Pavilion constituency,  (b) the Brighton and Hove area and  (c) England in 2009-10; and how many such places he expects to be provided in 2010-11.

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education collects data on number of Sure Start Children's Centres in each local authority area in England but does not routinely collect data on the number of places provided in each centre. In the Brighton and Hove city council area, 15 children's centres are recorded on the Department for Education's database, providing access to services for around 15,000 children under five and their families. Figures are not available for the Brighton Pavilion constituency. As at 31 March 2010, there were 3,614 children's centres in England and at 22 March 2011 data shows there were 3,621.
	The Government wants to retain a network of children's centres, accessible to all families but focused on those in greatest need. It is for local authorities, in consultation with local communities to determine the most effective way of delivering future services to meet local need. Local authorities continue to have a duty under section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006 to provide sufficient provision of children's centres so far as is reasonably practicable, and to consult before opening, closing or significantly changing children's centres.

Children's Centres

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the change in the number of Sure Start children's centres since May 2010.

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education collects data from local authorities on number of Sure Start Children's Centres in each local authority area in England. As at 31 May 2010, data show there were 3,631 Sure Start Children's Centres in England. As at 22 March 2011, data show there were 3,621 Sure Start Children's Centres in England.
	It is for local authorities, in consultation with local communities, to determine the most effective way of delivering children's centre services to meet local need. Local authorities continue to have duties under section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006 to provide sufficient provision of children's centres, so far as is reasonably practicable, and to consult before opening, closing or significantly changing children's centres.

Consultants

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for how many hours consultancy work his Department paid Michael Wilkins in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: The Department's financial records show that the Department did not make any payments for consultancy hours to Michael Wilkins in the last 12 months, nor does the Department hold any information for a Michael Wilkins on its central contracts database.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The actual number of staff who have permanently left the Department's employ since 31 May 2010 is 207 (195.85 FTE). The total number of people that have left the Department and its arm's length bodies is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Staff numbers 
			  Name  May 2010  March 2011 
			 Department for Education 2,622 2,605 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) 264 9 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) 2,098 1,997 
			 Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) 210 164 
			 General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) 216 175 
			 National College 367 326 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) 26 27 
			 Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) 162 163 
			 Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) 1,945 1,615 
			 Partnerships for Schools (PfS) 186 168 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) 502 363 
			 School Food Trust (SFT) 74 72 
			 Training and Development Agency (TDA) 311 311 
			 Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) 561 534 
			 Total 9,544 8,529

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) actual and  (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The number of staff employed by the Department (as at 1 May 2010) was 2,646 (2,526.8 FTE).
	Similar information from May 2010 for the actual number of staff working for the Department's arm's length bodies is set out in the following table. Information for full-time equivalent staff is not yet available, but will be placed in the House of Commons Library when published:
	
		
			  Name  Staff numbers May 2010 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) 264 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) 2,098 
			 Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) 210 
			 General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) 216 
			 National College 367 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) 26 
			 Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) 162 
			 Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) 1,945 
			 Partnerships for Schools (PfS) 186 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) 502 
			 School Food Trust (SFT) 74 
			 Training and Development Agency (TDA) 311 
			 Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) 561 
			 Total 6,922

Departmental Official Cars

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The following table shows the dates Ministers at the Department for Education last travelled in a ministerial car.
	
		
			  Minister  Date 
			 Michael Gove 29 March 
			 Nick Gibb 29 March 
			 Sarah Teather 29 March 
			 Jonathan Hill 11 March 
			 Tim Loughton 22 March 
		
	
	Information on the times and dates each minister travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Ministers only have a ministerial car when they are travelling in an official capacity and have departmental work, to do. However, all ministers, travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel as set out in the Ministerial Code. Section 10 of the Code provides guidance on travel for ministers, and makes clear that Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on hospitality since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: From May 2010 to February 2011 the Department has spent £3,257.44 on hospitality. The corresponding spend on hospitality from May 2009 to February 2010 was £6,612.37.

Departmental Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 1009-11W, on departmental procurement, what process was used to determine the value of the contract with Professors Wiliam, Pollard and James for an expert panel for the National Curriculum review; and who was involved in the appointment process of the expert panel.

Nick Gibb: The decision to appoint Professors Wiliam, Pollard and James to the Expert Panel was taken on the advice of officials and Tim Oates, Chair of the Expert Panel. The value of their contracts was determined through a process of negotiation which secured a rate that represented good value for money for their services.

Departmental Public Bodies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.

Michael Gove: On 16 March 2011, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) issued a written ministerial statement on progress with public bodies reform. That statement also announced that departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.
	Administrative savings from the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) over the spending review period are estimated at £1.4 million.
	The SSSNB is to be abolished because its remit to develop a national pay and conditions framework for school support staff does not fit well with the Government's priorities for greater flexibility and autonomy for schools.

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London underground and (ii) public bus services on Government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on Government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The last time I travelled on the London underground while on Government business was 24 March 2011 and I have not travelled by bus. The Department holds no record of any other Minister travelling by either form of transport while on Government business.

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of his ministerial team have been issued with  (a) an Oyster card and  (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on Government business.

Tim Loughton: No member of the ministerial team has been issued with either an Oyster card or any type of monthly or annual travel card.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel by  (a) ministerial car,  (b) train,  (c) bus,  (d) commercial aircraft and  (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The total invoiced expenditure on ministerial cars for the Department since May 2010 is £207,125.
	 (b) Information regarding the cost of ministerial rail travel is not recorded separately and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 (c) No ministerial journeys have been made by public bus.
	 (d and e) Since May 2010, this Department is committed to publishing quarterly online information on all ministerial overseas travel, including cost. The published information can be viewed at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a0065263ministers-quarterly-returns
	The information for January to March 2011 will be published in due course.
	Ministers in the Department for Education have not travelled on a commercial or private aircraft within the United Kingdom.
	Section 10 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance on travel for Ministers and makes clear that Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements

Departmental Travel

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on first class train travel in financial year 2009-10.

Tim Loughton: The Department spent £2,397,940 on first class train travel in the financial year 2009-10.
	The data has been provided by the Department's contractor for travel booking, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

Discretionary Learner Support Fund

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2010,  Official Report, column 411W, on the discretionary learner support fund: Poplar, on what date he plans to announce proposals for the replacement of the education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	On 28 March we announced a new £180 million bursary scheme which, from September 2011, will be targeted towards those young people who most need support to enable them to continue their education and training post-16, together with transitional arrangements to help some of those who are presently in receipt of EMA. We are currently consulting on our proposals.

Discretionary Learner Support Fund

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what eligibility criteria he plans to put in place for eligibility for discretionary learner support for students attending  (a) sixth form and  (b) further education colleges; and whether such support will include (i) travelcards, (ii) meals at college and (iii) course-related equipment.

Michael Gove: On 28 March 2011 we announced the establishment of a new 16-19 Bursary Fund, worth £180 million a year. The most vulnerable young people-those in care, care leavers and young people in receipt of income support-will receive a bursary of £1,200 a year. Beyond this, schools, colleges and training providers will be able to use their discretion to award bursaries in ways that best fit the circumstances and needs of their students, for example, to provide help with transport, meals, books, or other course-related costs.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review his decision to end education maintenance allowance in the light of recent figures for youth unemployment.

Nick Gibb: Latest data from the Labour Force Survey (November-December 2010) shows that the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) fell by 0.7 % points against the same quarter of 2009 to 8.5% (a fall equivalent to 15,000 young people). On 28 March 2011 we announced a new £180 million bursary scheme which, from September 2011, will be targeted towards those young people who most need support to enable them to continue their education and training post-16, together with transitional arrangements to help the majority of those who are presently in receipt of EMA. We are currently consulting on our proposals.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which 16 to 19-year-old students in  (a) sixth form and  (b) further education colleges who received education maintenance allowance he met in the course of development of his proposals for 16 to 19 student finance.

Nick Gibb: In developing the proposals for the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, Department for Education officials met a number of young people in receipt of EMA from sixth form colleges and further education colleges, in particular through discussions arranged by the National Union of Students, the National Association of Managers of Student Services and Platform 51.
	In developing these proposals, we also took account of the work of the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes), who, in his capacity of Advocate for Access to Education, has met groups of young people from sixth form colleges and further education colleges in a number of areas, including Merseyside, Southwark, Lambeth and Hampshire.
	We are currently consulting on the new arrangements.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Blackpool

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of students in Blackpool who were in receipt of education maintenance allowance in academic year 2010-11 who will be ineligible for the new Bursary scheme for students aged 16 to 19 in academic year 2012-13.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	The most vulnerable young people-whether or not they are currently in receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA)-will be eligible in 2012/13 for a bursary of £1,200. Any other students who were in receipt of EMA in 2011/12 and are continuing in post-16 education or training for a third year in 2012/13 will be eligible to apply for support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund in the third year of their studies. Decisions as to which students receive support will be made by schools, colleges and training providers.

Education: Drugs

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the Blueprint drug education research programme.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 1 April 2011
	The Blueprint drug education research programme was a Home Office funded programme. Three research reports were published: the response of pupils and parents to the programme, a delivery report and a practitioner report. These are all available online. The final report was published in 2009.
	A summary of the response of pupils and parents to the programme is available at the national archives website through the following link:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100419081707/http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/blueprint/blueprint-final-report-2009
	The delivery and practitioner reports set out the key learning points for policy makers, practitioners and programme designers. These reports are available at the national archives website through the following link:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100419081707/http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/blueprint/dpreports/?view=Standard&pubID=508900
	These reports were considered by officials as part of the development of the national Drug Strategy published in December 2010.

Education: Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the oral statement of 28 March 2011,  Official Report, column 65, on post-16 education funding, who carried out the opinion poll cited in support of his policy; on what date it was conducted; how many people were surveyed; if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) brief for and  (b) results of the poll; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 April 2011
	I can confirm that the opinion poll to which the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) referred on 28 March 2011,  Official Report, column 65, was carried out by YouGov between 19 and 20 January 2011 from a sample of 1,860 adults. The survey results are shown in the following tables, and is available to view on the YouGov website:
	http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Archives-Pol-YouGov-EMA-210111.pdf
	
		
			  Percentage 
			Voting intention  2010 Vote  Gender  Age 
			   Total  Con  Lab  Lib Dem  Con  Lab  Lib De m  Male  Female  18-24  25-39  40-59  60+ 
			 Weighted Sample 1860 522 621 139 587 470 430 905 955 222 476 641 521 
			 Unweighted Sample 1860 491 589 137 553 452 449 S71 939 132 436 778 514 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Social grade  Region 
			   AEC1  C2DE  London  Rest of South  Midlands /Wales  North  Scotland 
			 Weighted Sample 1043 787 239 609 395 454 101 
			 Unweighted Sample 1211 6'19 244 S09 337 450 138 
		
	
	Education maintenance allowance (EMA) is a weekly allowance of up to £30 paid to young people from low income backgrounds between the ages of 16 and 19 if they stay in full time education. The Government have said they will abolish the EMA as part of their measures to cut the deficit and Instead replace it with more targeted help for the poorest students. Critics say this will deter young people from staying in education.
	Do you support or oppose the abolition of the EMA?
	
		
			Voting intention  2010 Vote  Gender  Age 
			   Total  Con  Lab  Lib Dem  Con  Lab  Lib De m  Male  Female  18-24  25-39  40-59  60+ 
			 Support 41 65 21 42 60 19 38 43 38 45 43 37 42 
			 Oppose 46 25 68 42 27 69 50 44 49 44 38 51 49 
			 Don't know 13 10 10 16 12 11 12 13 13 10 19 12 10 
		
	
	
		
			   Social grade  Region 
			   AEC1  C2DE  London  Rest of South  Midlands /Wales  North  Scotland 
			 Support 46 34 42 41 42 38 39 
			 Oppose 41 53 47 45 42 51 47 
			 Don't know 13 13 11 13 16 11 14

Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the statement of 28 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 51-53, on post-16 education funding, what estimate he has made of the number of students  (a) in the west midlands,  (b) in Dudley borough and  (c) enrolled at Dudley college who will be eligible for (i) the 16 to 19 bursary and (ii) the additional post-16 bursary of £1,200.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	We estimate that there are around 12,000 young people currently in receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA) who are in one of the groups that will, under the 16-19 bursary scheme, receive a bursary of £1,200 a year. It is not possible to break these data down by provider, local authority or region.
	All students in full-time education or training will be eligible to apply for support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund. Decisions as to which students should receive support will be made by schools, colleges and training providers.

Education: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the administrative burden on  (a) school sixth forms and  (b) further education colleges of the operation of the new Bursary scheme for students aged 16 to 19.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Schools and colleges already administer discretionary learner support funding, and played a role in administering the education maintenance allowance. They will be allowed to use up to 5% of the 16-19 Bursary Fund to meet the costs of administering the scheme. We are currently consulting on the arrangements for the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

Education: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) the Association of Colleges,  (b) the Association of School and College Leaders,  (c) the 157 Group and  (d) others on the administration of his Department's bursary scheme for students aged 16 to 19.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	We have held discussions with representatives of the Association of Colleges, the Association of School and College Leaders, the 157 Group and others on the proposals to replace the education maintenance allowance (EMA) since the announcement of its closure. Following the announcement of the new 16-19 Bursary Fund on 28 March 2011, we have launched a formal consultation, which will close on 20 May.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements will be placed on training providers to report on the  (a) number and  (b) size of awards administered through discretionary funding for 16 to 19 education.

Nick Gibb: Currently training providers with an allocation of discretionary learner support funds are required to provide management information to the Young People's Learning Agency annually. We expect that this arrangement will continue for the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions steps to identify those young people who do not stay in education and training due to financial barriers.

Nick Gibb: The responsibility for identifying those young people who are not in education, employment or training rests with local authorities. They work closely with Jobcentre Plus to ensure that such young people receive appropriate support to find employment or to re-engage in education or training.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to develop and issue national guidance for providers who will award 16-19 education discretionary funds.

Nick Gibb: The Young People's Learning Agency, who will be responsible for the operation of the new 16 to 19 bursary fund, will issue short, focused guidance to schools, colleges and training providers after the end of the formal consultation on the new arrangements.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that each young person who was in receipt of free school meals in year 11 and progresses to post-16 education between the ages of 16 to 19 will receive £800 in funding from discretionary learner support.

Nick Gibb: The most vulnerable young people-those in care, care leavers and young people in receipt of income support-will receive a bursary of at least £1,200 under the arrangements we announced on 28 March 2011. Schools, colleges and training providers will have discretion to award bursaries to other students, including those in receipt of free school meals in year 11, in ways that best fit local needs and circumstances.

Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what timetable he has set for consultation on the award of payments through the new 16 to 19 education bursary and discretionary fund.

Nick Gibb: A formal consultation on arrangements for the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, including the proposed transitional arrangements for young people currently in receipt of the education maintenance allowance (EMA), was launched on 28 March 2011. The consultation will close on 20 May 2011.

Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any of the funding for his Department's 16 to 19 education bursaries will come from departmental reserves.

Nick Gibb: We have always had money set aside within the Department for Education budget for 16 to 19 financial support. As part of the budget discussions we agreed a call on Treasury reserves for a minority of the funding for the new 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date he plans to inform education and training providers of the level of funding they will be allocated for discretionary learner support.

Nick Gibb: Allocations will be made to schools, colleges and training providers following the end of the formal consultation on the new arrangements, which closes on 20 May 2011.

Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he plans to issue to young people on the new 16-19 student finance arrangements; and whether the cost of issuing such information will be met by his Department.

Nick Gibb: Information on the 16-19 bursary fund is currently available on the Department for Education website and on Directgov. We will consider what further communication may be necessary following the consultation on the new arrangements.
	http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/EMA/
	http://www.education.gov.uk/16to19/studentsupport/a0064057/financial-support-for-learning

Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which private training providers will have access to discretionary learner support funding.

Nick Gibb: Training providers who are funded by the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will have access to the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, which replaces the discretionary learner support fund from September 2011.

Educational Maintenance Allowance: Free School Meals

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of educational maintenance allowance who are not eligible for free school meals who will receive payments under his Department's new bursary scheme.

Nick Gibb: Around 320,000 young people will receive guaranteed support in 2011/12 as a result of the measures we announced on 28 March 2011. We do not hold data on how many of these young people are eligible for free school meals. Decisions as to how the remainder of the funding is distributed will be made by schools, colleges and training providers so we are not able to estimate how many young people will receive payments or what proportion of young people receiving a bursary will be eligible for free school meals.

Educational Maintenance Allowance: Free School Meals

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the average change in annual income attributable to the introduction of the bursary for recipients of educational maintenance allowance who are not eligible for free school meals between 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: In 2009/10 (the latest year for which full figures were available) the average amount paid annually to young people in receipt of £30 a week educational maintenance allowance (EMA) was £760, equating to approximately 25 weekly payments. For young people in receipt of £20 a week the average annual payment was £520, and for young people receiving £10 a week it was £260.
	Under arrangements for transitional support, young people holding an EMA 'guarantee' from 2009/10-including, but not limited to, those in receipt of free school meals-will see no change to their payments. Those who received £30 a week EMA for the first time in 2010/11 will receive £20 a week-including around 140,000 young people who are not eligible for free school meals. Young people who received £10 and £20 a week EMA for the first time in 2010/11 will not receive a guarantee of support under the transitional arrangements: young people in this group will not be eligible for free school meals.
	Current recipients of EMA in both the 2009/10 cohort and the 2010/11 cohort-whether or not they are eligible for free school meals between 2010-11 and 2011-12-will be eligible to apply for a bursary, in addition to any weekly payments, from their school, college or training provider.
	A full Equality Impact Assessment has been published and is available on the Department's website:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/ema%20replacement%20scheme.pdf
	A copy has also been placed in the House Libraries.

Free School Meals

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the difference in average annual incomes attributable to the introduction of the bursary payments for children in receipt of free school meals entitled to the full education maintenance allowance assuming no other changes in their personal circumstances.

Nick Gibb: In 2009/10 (the last year for which full figures are available) the average amount paid annually to young people in receipt of £30 a week EMA was £760.
	Following the introduction of 16-19 Bursaries from September 2011, the most vulnerable young people-children in care, care leavers and young people on income support-will receive a bursary of £1,200.
	Under arrangements for transitional support, young people holding an EMA 'guarantee' from 2009/10-including those in receipt of free school meals-will see no change to their payments. Those who received £30 a week EMA for the first time in 2010/11-including those in receipt of free school meals-will receive £20 a week. Young people in both the 2009/10 cohort and the 2010/11 cohort will also be eligible to apply for a bursary, in addition to these weekly payments, from their school, college or training provider.
	While actual payments will reflect need, by way of illustration the 16-19 Bursary Fund is sufficient to provide a bursary of £800 a year to 15% of all 16-19 year olds in full-time education and training-more than covering those who were in receipt of free school meals in year 11. This represents an increase of £40 on the current annual average payment to all young people receiving £30 a week EMA.
	A full Equality Impact Assessment has been published and is available on the Department's website:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/ema%20replacement%20scheme.pdf
	A copy has also been placed in the House Libraries.

Free School Meals: Further Education

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he will determine free school meal eligibility in sixth form and further education colleges for the purposes of allocating discretionary funding for 16 to 19 education.

Nick Gibb: Sixth form colleges, further education colleges and training providers will have discretion to award bursaries to students, including those who were in receipt of free school meals while at school, in ways that best fit local needs and circumstances. Decisions will be made at a local level and it will be for colleges and training providers to consider what type of evidence they will use when determining how to allocate bursaries.

Free Schools

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the basis in legislation is for the establishment of free schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 April 2011
	 Free schools will be set up as academies under the provisions of the Academies Act 2010.

Free Schools

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will have discussions with local authorities for the purposes of asking them to encourage more applications for free schools.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities have a strong strategic role to fulfil as commissioners of schools and school places and a statutory duty to plan and secure the provision of schools. Free schools are designed to respond to local parental demand for change and as such we would expect local authorities to work with groups who come forward with an idea for a school. The changes in the Education Bill also provide for LAs to invite, as a first choice, solutions from an academy or a free school group where they have identified a need for additional school places.

GCE A-level

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of students were entered for A-level examinations in  (a) English literature,  (b) history,  (c) further mathematics,  (d) biological sciences and  (e) physics in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective schools, (iii) independent schools and (iv) sixth form colleges (A) nationally and (B) in each local education authority area in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

GCSE: Free Schools Meals

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children gained five or more A* to C grades at GCSE in English, mathematics, the sciences, a foreign language and a humanity in each year since GCSEs were introduced; and how many of those were  (a) eligible and  (b) ineligible for free school meals in each such year.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 April 2011
	 This question can be interpreted in two ways. We have provided figures for each of the subjects separately and an overall figure, for pupils that achieved GCSEs at grade A*-C in all of the listed subjects.
	The figures requested for 2009 and 2010 are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pupils( 1)  achieving A*-C GCSE grades by free school meal eligi bility. Years: 2009-10 (amended)( 2) . Coverage: England, maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) 
			   Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Pupils not eligible for free school meals  All pupils( 3) 
			   2009  2010  2009  2010  2009  2010 
			 All pupils: 74,419 77,324 504,377 500,640 578,840 578,063 
			
			  Achieving A*-C grades by subject:   
			  English   
			 Number 27,905 33,178 329,914 349,405 357,846 382,649 
			 Percentage of pupils 37.5 42.9 65.4 69.8 61.8 66.2 
			
			  Mathematics   
			 Number 26,075 30,625 312,568 329,997 338,673 360,685 
			 Percentage of pupils 35.0 39.6 62.0 65.9 58.5 62.4 
			
			  At least two sciences( 4)   
			 Number 15,917 17,570 238,278 245,507 254,203 263,103 
			 Percentage of pupils 21.4 22.7 47.2 49.0 43.9 45.5 
			
			  Humanities( 5)   
			 Number 9,115 9,997 172,973 174,082 182,098 184,095 
			 Percentage of pupils 12.2 12.9 34.3 34.8 31.5 31.8 
			
			  Modern Languages( 6)   
			 Number 10,156 10,420 151,824 150,851 161,990 161,299 
			 Percentage of pupils 13.6 13.5 30.1 30.1 28.0 27.9 
			
			  GCSEs at grade A*-C inc. all of the above subjects   
			 Number 2,848 3,161 83,478 84,701 86,326 87,869 
			 Percentage of pupils 3.8 4.1 16.6 16.9 14.9 15.2 
			 (1) Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (2) 2009 figures are based on final data; 2010 figures are based on amended data. (3) Includes pupils for whom free school meal eligibility could not be determined. (4) Pupils w ho achieved grade A*-C at (i) Double award Science GCSE, (ii) in both (Core Science or Single Science) and Additional Science GCSEs or (iii) were entered Physics, Chemistry and Biological Science and achieved A*-C grades in at least two of them. (5) Pupils w ho achieved grade A*-C at GCSE in History, Geography or both subjects. There is no set definition of 'Humanities', this definition is in line with the proposed English Baccalaureate. (6) Pupils w ho achieved grade A*-C at GCSE in at least one of the following subjects: French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, Persian.  Source: National Pupil Database 
		
	
	Figures for previous years are available only at disproportionate cost.
	The subjects in this PQ are similar but not the same as those in the English Baccalaureate. National and school level data on individual GCSE subjects, indicators excluding equivalences and the components of the English Baccalaureate, were published on 31 March 2011 (see tables 1b and 4) at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000985/index.shtml

Health Education: Sex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requests for information relating to  (a) abortion and  (b) sex and relationships education were made to his Department and its predecessor under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each year since 2009; whether each request was (i) agreed to and (ii) refused; if he will place in the Library a copy of the information provided in response to each request; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: All FOI requests for abortion data are responded to by the Department of Health.
	There have been five FOI requests for information relating specifically to sex and relationships education (SRE) and a further case that covered both SRE and religious education/collective worship. A summary of each request and its outcome is provided as follows. Copies of the full replies and any associated documents that were provided to the correspondent, will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	(1) On 6 November 2009, Mr Norman Wells requested release of all correspondence, notes of meetings, discussion papers, file notes and all other documents in relation to discussions about the age up to which parents should be able to withdraw their children from sex and relationship education lessons.
	A reply to Mr Wells on 30 November 2009 confirmed that the requested information was being withheld under section 35(1)(a) and section 42 of the FOI Act 2000.
	(2) On 19 January 2010, Mr G. E. Hester requested copies of minutes and any notes, including handwritten notes, taken at any meetings or gatherings where the Catholic Education Service, or any of its agents, including Ms Oona Stannard and Bishop McMahon, met with any civil servant or Government Minister in the calendar year 2009 on the subject of sex education or PSHE in schools; and any letters, e-mails or other communications sent by the same parties on the same subject in the calendar year 2009.
	A reply to Mr Hester on 5 March 2010 explained that aspects of the information he had requested had been partially withheld under section 35(1)(a) of the FOI Act 2000.
	(3) On 9 April 2010, Mr Carl Gardner requested disclosure of all legal advice provided in 2009 and 2010 by DCSF or other Government lawyers, including Parliamentary Counsel, or by outside counsel instructed by Government lawyers, on the questions (a) whether any amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill to give parents the right to withdraw their children from 'PSHE' until the age of 16 would or would not be incompatible with convention rights and (b) on the question whether Ministers had any choice but to remove those provisions from the Bill; disclose whether or not such legal advice was or was not given, by whom it was given, and when, or disclosure of the fact that legal advice was given if we believe naming individuals would prejudice individual privacy.
	A reply to Mr Gardner on 10 May 2010 confirmed that this information had been withheld under section 35(1)(a), section 40(2), and section 42 of the FOI Act 2000.
	(4) On 8 April 2010, Ms Dimmock from the Children's Right Alliance for England (CRAE) requested a copy of the legal advice provided to the (then) Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls) concerning the compliance of the Children, Schools and Families Bill with the European convention on human rights (ECHR), specifically with regard to the age at which parents can withdraw their children from sex and relationships education.
	A reply to Ms Dimmock on 10 May 2010 confirmed that this information had been withheld under section 35(1)(a), section 40(2), and section 42 of the FOI Act 2000
	(5) Following the decision at point (1), Mr Norman Wells was advised by the Information Commissioner that, due to the passage of time, it might be relevant to make a second request for all correspondence, notes of meetings, discussion papers, file notes and all other documents in relation to discussions about the age up to which parents should be able to withdraw their children from sex and relationships education, prior to 6 May 2010. This subsequent request was made on 1 November 2010.
	A reply to Mr Wells on 15 December 2010 reiterated that this information was being withheld under section 35(1)(a) and section 42 of the FOI Act 2000.
	(6) On 24 May 2010, Mr Chilton asked whether any assessments had been made about the compatibility of: section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and section 405 of the Education Act 1996, on a range of articles and conventions.
	A reply containing the information requested was provided on 15 June 2010.

International Baccalaureate

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the  (a) funding and  (b) availability of places to study for the International Baccalaureate in maintained schools and colleges.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Funding for the International Baccalaureate (IB) will be the same for the academic year 2011/12 as it has been in 2010/11. The 16 to 19 funding formula is currently being reviewed and we will ensure that we take into account issues relating to the delivery of the IB as part of that review.
	The Government recognise the high quality and rigour of the IB and we very much support schools and colleges who choose to offer it. However, it is for schools and colleges to judge the demand for the IB and to determine the number of places they want to offer.

Outward Grange Consultancy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on education services provided by Outward Grange Consultancy in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on the  (a) income and  (b) expenditure of Outward Grange Consultancy in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not made any payments to Outward Grange Consultancy and does not have any financial information on Outward Grange Consultancy.

Outward Grange Consultancy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the appropriateness of the award of public sector contracts to Outward Grange Consultancy; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department has made no payments to the Outward Grange Consultancy. In awarding contracts, the Department ensures that it awards contracts to commercial consultancy organisations in line with the Public Procurement Regulations 2006.

Parenting Classes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of  (a) pre-natal classes and  (b) adult parenting classes in improving child development.

Sarah Teather: The Department has assessed the effectiveness of a number of pre-natal and adult parenting classes in improving child development. Details of these are as follows:
	 Pre-natal classes
	The Family Nurse Partnership programme (FNP), which includes a focus on parenting skills, starts in the pre-natal period and continues until the child is two years old. It is designed to improve the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of parents and their children.
	Early research into the implementation of FNP has demonstrated that the programme generates high levels of engagement with hard to reach families, strong engagement with fathers, a reduction in smoking during pregnancy and increasing breastfeeding rates. More information is available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DCSF-RR166.pdf
	 Adult parenting classes
	The Department for Education currently provides funding support to the National Academy of Parenting Research (NAPR) that looks at effective parenting interventions and evidence-based parenting programmes that work to improve child well-being and educational attainment. Findings about the effectiveness of the parenting programmes will be published in 2012.
	In 2008 and 2010 the Department for Education published results from the evaluation of the Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinder (PEIP). The parenting programmes have had positive effects on the parents' mental well-being and the style of parenting, as well as their children's behaviours. More information is available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR047.pdf
	Family intervention services work with the most challenging families. The intervention provides the families with the support of a dedicated 'key worker' who co-ordinates a multi-agency package of support and works directly with the families to help them overcome problems. In 2006 the Department commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to conduct a programme of research to monitor and evaluate Family Intervention Projects (FiPs) as they were then known. This programme of work is currently ongoing. Published statistics can be found here:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000956/osr09-2010.pdf

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of pupils in  (a) Berkshire,  (b) Reading and  (c) Reading West constituency who will qualify for the pupil premium.

Nick Gibb: The pupil premium for 2011-12 will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils that are known to be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 school censuses. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals will attract £430 of funding which will go to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting or will be managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
	Local authorities will also attract the Looked After Child Pupil Premium for 2011-12 which will be allocated to local authorities for pupils who at some point in the year to 31 March 2010 were looked after continuously for at least six months, and who were aged four to 15 on 31 August 2009 as recorded on the April 2010 local authority return. Each pupil will attract £430 of funding which will go to the responsible local authority who will pass it to maintained schools for pupils who have been in care for six months or more in the year to 31 March 2011.
	There is also a Service child premium which will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils who were registered as Service children on the January 2011 School Census. Each pupil known to be eligible will attract £200 of funding which will go to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA.
	Data from the January 2011 school censuses are not yet available, but the January 2010 censuses allow an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made.
	In Berkshire(1) in January 2010 there were 13,020 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £5,392,000.
	In the Reading local authority in January 2010 there were 3,120 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £1,341,000
	In Reading West constituency in January 2010 there were 2,500 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £1,073,000. This does not include pupils recorded on the Alternative Provision census (i.e. those funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in Non-Maintained Special Schools, Further Education establishments, etc.), or children eligible for the looked after child premium as this is not available at constituency level.
	However, these are estimates only and are not necessarily indicative of how the pupil premium will be distributed.
	(1) Includes the following local authorities Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham.
	 Note:
	The county and local authority level figures in the above estimates include FTE FSM-eligible pupils, in Reception to Year 11, or aged 4-15 if not following the National Curriculum, as at the January 2010 School Census and Pupil Referral Unit Census and headcount from 4-15 in the Alternative Provision Census (i.e. those pupils funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in Non-Maintained Special Schools, Further Education establishments, etc.) those eligible for the Service child premium and those eligible for the Looked After Child pupil premium. Dual main registrations and sole registrations for five to 15 and all registrations for 4-year-olds are taken. Pupil numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, and allocations are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of closing the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

Nick Gibb: The Department is committed to the Government's ambition to reform public bodies, improve transparency and accountability, streamline services and reduce costs. Subject to the will of Parliament, I expect the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) to be closed shortly after Royal Assent is given to the Education Bill. It is too soon to provide an estimate of the costs which will be incurred and savings which will be achieved by closing the QCDA. Across the spending review period, the savings from closing the QCDA will contribute to the overall anticipated departmental savings from ALBs of up to £673 million.

Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of transferring staff working on the National Curriculum Assessment at the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency into his Department;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the likely level of savings that will arise from transferring responsibilities from the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency to the Standards and Testing Agency.

Nick Gibb: We expect the great majority of staff currently working directly on statutory assessment and testing within the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) to transfer in due course to the Standards and Testing Agency. Overall costs associated with establishing the Standards and Testing Agency, including the necessary works to effect transfer of staff to DfE systems, are not expected to exceed £5 million.
	It is too soon to be specific or to provide a detailed breakdown of the savings that will be achieved by closing the QCDA. Across the spending review period, the savings from closing the QCDA will contribute to the overall anticipated Departmental savings of up to £673 million. Our priority for National Curriculum testing is to ensure its smooth and efficient transfer to the Standards and Testing Agency, in order to support safe delivery of testing through that agency.

Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency: Redundancy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to avoid compulsory redundancies among staff working at the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

Nick Gibb: The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the Department are committed to minimising potential redundancies. Where functions are transferring to the Department or elsewhere, the majority of staff working directly on those functions are expected to transfer with them. For those areas of the QCDA's work which will cease, and where jobs are at risk, the QCDA has commenced consultation on a voluntary redundancy scheme and has adopted a number of redundancy avoidance measures, including affected staff being given priority status when applying for civil service vacancies.

School Leaving

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the September Guarantee of a funded learning place to all 16 to 17-year-olds.

Nick Gibb: The Young People's Learning Agency has allocated funding to schools, colleges and other providers for over 1.3 million places for 16 to 19-year-olds in the 2011/12 academic year. Together with the funding available for 230,000 apprenticeship places for this age group, this will ensure that an appropriate funded place is available for any 16 or 17-year-old who wants one.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Schools, my noble Friend (Lord Hill) wrote to all local authorities on 17 February 2011 to make clear that the process of offering 16 and 17-year-olds a suitable place in education or training by the end of September, which has been known as the 'September Guarantee', will continue. This will help to ensure that more young people have the opportunity to continue their education as we move towards full participation of 16 and 17-year-olds by 2015.

School Meals: Expenditure

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on school meals in each year since 2007  (a) in the City of Brighton and Hove and  (b) nationally.

Sarah Teather: School meals are primarily funded by parents and local authorities. The Department's contribution was introduced in 2005 to support the transformation of school food and help schools to meet the increased costs of introducing healthier school lunches.
	The Department has contributed the following towards the costs of school lunches in Brighton and Hove:
	2007-08: £293,386 (Targeted School Meals and Devolved School Meals Grants)
	2008-09: £316,267 (School Lunch Grant)
	2009-10: £310,126 (School Lunch Grant)
	2010-11: £301,597 (School Lunch Grant).
	The value of the School Lunch Grant, to be mainstreamed into the Dedicated Schools Grant in Brighton and Hove in 2011-12, is £301,597.
	The total over these four years in Brighton and Hove is £1,221,376.
	The Department has funded English local authorities £80 million per year via the grants listed above, giving a total of £320 million over the same four years.

Schools: Academies

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects on levels of employment at Portland and Valley schools of his decision to award academy status to Outwood Grange Academy.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has approved an Expression of Interest from Outwood Grange Academy Trust to develop plans to replace both Valley and Portland Secondary Schools with two Sponsored Academies. This project will now move into the next stage of development. During this phase, the appropriate staffing structure to run each of the Academies effectively will be developed by Outwood Grange Academy Trust.

Schools: Academies

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications his Department has received from schools seeking to become Academy schools since August 2010.

Nick Gibb: As of 1 March 2011, 486 schools had applied to convert into Academies since August 2010. The April figure will be published later this week.
	A list is available on the DfE website, which is updated monthly at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011

Schools: Finance

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure equitable funding of schools  (a) within and  (b) between local authority areas.

Nick Gibb: This Government inherited a funding system that was based on out of date assessment of need, and this has resulted in some anomalies in revenue funding within and between different local authorities areas. For 2011-12, we have simplified schools funding by removing ring fenced grants but there remains a need for greater transparency and consistency in funding. We want all schools to be funded logically and equitably, and to reduce the funding differences between similar schools in different areas.
	We announced in the Schools White Paper "The Importance of Teaching" that we intend to consult in the spring of 2011 on the merits of moving to such a National Funding Formula for schools, the right time to begin the transition to a formula, the transitional arrangements necessary to ensure that schools and local authorities do not suffer undue turbulence, and the factors to take into account in order to assess the needs of pupils for funding purposes.

Schools: GCE A-level

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of A-level students in  (a) comprehensive schools,  (b) selective schools,  (c) independent schools and  (d) sixth form colleges in each local education authority area were entered for 
	(1)  at least three A-levels from (i) mathematics, (ii) English literature, (iii) further mathematics, (iv) biological sciences, (v) physics, (vi) chemistry, (vii) geography and (viii) a modern foreign language in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  A-level mathematics examinations in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  one or more A-level examinations in a foreign language in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 31 March 2011
	 The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Schools: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was to be allocated to schools in Nottinghamshire in 2011-12 before the allocations from the fourth round of Standards Fund payments; and how much is now to be allocated.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 30 March 2011
	There are two funding streams from this Department in 2011-12 that are available to local authorities to fund schools. They are the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Pupil Premium. The Dedicated Schools Grant per pupil for Nottinghamshire for 2011-12 is £4,746.05. The pupil premium is £430 per pupil eligible for free school meals or looked after child and £200 per service child. These amounts have not been changed since they were announced on 13( )December 2010 as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Schools: Private Finance Initiative

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which body is responsible for arbitrating disputes over responsibility for payments under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in cases where a school constructed or improved under a PFI Project subsequently becomes an academy.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 March 2011
	When a PFI school becomes an academy, the local authority, academy trust and DfE negotiate a tripartite agreement known as the Principal Agreement. It is for the parties involved to reach agreement on the terms and conditions of this document. The Principal Agreement contains a comprehensive dispute resolution process which would be used if a dispute arose between the parties after it had been signed. It sets out that, where initial efforts fail, and mediation by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) does not solve the problem, any party can refer the matter to an adjudicator. If the parties cannot agree who should adjudicate, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators would appoint one.

Schools: Southwark

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding for discretionary learner support his Department plans to allocate for schools in Southwark in academic year 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: On 28 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 51-53, the Secretary of State for Education announced a new £180 million bursary scheme which, from September 2011, will be targeted towards those young people who most need support to enable them to continue their education and training post-16. He also set out proposals for transitional arrangements to help some of those who are presently in receipt of EMA. We are currently consulting on our proposals, including on the methodology for allocating the funding to schools, colleges and training organisations.

Schools: Sports

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on the use of school facilities for sport.

Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 March 2011,  Official Report, column 56W.

Schools: Transport

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effects of reductions in the revenue support grant on the ability of local authorities to meet their statutory travel to school obligations.

Michael Gove: I have allocated a further £85 million over the next two financial years to local authorities to support children from low income families to attend schools further from home than the statutory walking distances. Officials will review with local authorities how we can improve the efficiency and practice within local authority transport planning in the coming years.

Secondary Education: Kingston upon Thames

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make funding available for a new secondary school in North Kingston.

Nick Gibb: In December, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) informed every relevant local authority of its full share of DfE capital funding for 2011-12 - £4.9 million for the Royal borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. The Department has not retained any reserves for responding to individual applications from schools or local authorities.

Special Educational Needs

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to integrate education for children with special educational needs into mainstream schools.

Sarah Teather: The latest available data from the 2010 School Census shows that the majority (54.9%) of children with special educational needs (SEN) statements-those with the most severe and complex needs-are educated in mainstream schools. Other than in exceptional circumstances, all children with SEN but without statements are educated in mainstream schools. In January 2010, 90% of the 1.7 million pupils identified with Special Educational Needs were in maintained mainstream schools.
	For children with statements of special educational needs, parents currently can request that their child goes to a local authority maintained school, including a maintained mainstream school, and the local authority has a conditional duty to send the child to the school the parents have requested.
	The Green Paper 'Support and Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability' was published on 9 March. In that, the Government makes clear that parents should have a real choice between mainstream and special schools in meeting their children's needs. To this effect, it proposes to introduce legislation to ensure that the parents of children with an SEN statement, or a new 'Education, Health and Care Plan', have equivalent rights to request any state-funded school-whether that is a mainstream school, special school, mainstream or special Academy or Free School-and that the local authority will have the same conditional duty to send the child to the school the parents have requested.
	Where parents request a mainstream place, the Green Paper proposes a number of ways to help equip mainstream school teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children with SEN. These include: funding for a greater number of teacher trainee placements in special school settings so that prospective teachers can develop their skills in meeting the needs of children with SEN; encouraging learning from the best practice in mainstream and special schools; scholarships for serving teachers to develop their practice in supporting pupils with SEN, including in specific impairments and; launching a tender for bids from external organisations to build on the good practice achieved by the successful Achievement for All approach to school improvement, with its emphasis on high expectation and constructive engagement with parents.

Special Educational Needs

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average household income is of those who will receive a full bursary from his Department's 16 - 19 education fund who are  (a) severely disabled,  (b) a care leaver and  (c) from a family in receipt of income support in the next academic year.

Nick Gibb: Young people in care, care leavers and young people in receipt of income support in their own right will receive a bursary of £1,200 a year under the new arrangements. The Department does not hold information regarding their household income and we do not expect providers to ask for evidence of household income for these very vulnerable groups of young people.

Special Educational Needs: Academies

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether parents of children with statements of special educational needs (SEN) are restricted in seeking to send such children to academy special schools; whether local authorities are entitled to direct all children with SEN in this area to an area special school; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 29 March 2011
	We expect the first special academies to open in September 2011. Parents will then have the right to ask for their child with a statement of special educational needs to go to a special academy. Local authorities will have to consider parental requests for a place at a special academy, but will not be obliged to name it in the statement as the school the child will attend. In cases where parent's preferences have not been met, parents have the right to appeal to the first-tier tribunal (special educational needs and disability).
	Local authorities cannot direct all children with statements to-attend their local special schools. They have a conditional duty to comply with parental requests for children with statements to be educated in local authority maintained schools, either special or mainstream. The Government's Green Paper "Support and Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability", published on 9 March, proposes that all parental requests for a placement in state-funded schools, including special academies, will be treated in the same way. This will mean that local authorities will have the same conditional duty to send children with statements to special academies in accordance with parental requests as they currently do for parental requests for local authority maintained schools.

Students: Grants

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with what frequency payments to those awarded 16 to 19 bursaries will be made.

Nick Gibb: Decisions regarding the frequency of payments to those awarded 16-19 Bursaries will be a matter for schools, colleges and training providers. We are currently consulting on the details of the new arrangements.

Students: Grants

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to consult on the development of a discretionary fund for 16 to 19 student finance.

Nick Gibb: A consultation on the 16-19 Bursary Fund was launched on 28 March 2011 and will run until 20 May 2011. Consultation documents are available on the Department for Education's website.

Teachers: Pay

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the likely effects on quality of education of proposed reductions in teaching assistant pay in Cumbria.

Michael Gove: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Decisions on pay and conditions are taken at local level, by the employer of the staff in question. All employers are obliged to ensure that their reward structure delivers equality of pay across their work force. This is the purpose of the Single Status review that has been carried out in Cumbria. The Government believe it is right for this matter to be dealt with locally. In doing so, however, there is an expectation that the staffing structures in place in schools will be those that provide for the greatest impact on pupil outcomes.
	I am aware that many school support staff in Cumbria are concerned about the outcomes of the county council's Single Status job evaluation. But I have no doubt that, despite these concerns, their commitment to support the delivery of high quality education to the pupils in Cumbria will be maintained.

Value-added Metric

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish key stage 2-4 value added results for each local authority under the pre-2005 value-added metric alongside the contextual value-added results for 2009 and 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held by the Department and can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Vocational Guidance: Young People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to increase the standard of career services available to young people; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Subject to the passage of the Education Bill through Parliament, schools will be under a duty to secure access to independent careers guidance for their pupils from September 2012. The careers guidance must be presented in an impartial manner and include information on 16 to 18 education or training options, including Apprenticeships. This new provision will apply to pupils in school years nine to 11 and we will also consult this summer on whether the duty should be extended down to year eight and up to age 18. Schools will be free to make arrangements for careers guidance that fit the needs and circumstances of their pupils.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer  (a) Questions 38027 and 38028 tabled on 31 January 2011 for answer on 3 February 2011,  (b) Question 38806 tabled on 25 January 2011 for answer on 31 January 2011, and  (c) Questions 35861, 35860, 35859 and 35858 tabled on 19 January 2011 for answer on 24 January 2011.

Nick Gibb: A response to question 38028 has been issued today. A response to 35861 will be issued shortly.
	Responses were issued to the other questions as follows:
	PQs 35858 and 36806: 28 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 246-48W.
	PQ 38027: 9 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 1103-104W.
	PQs 35860: 14 March 2011,  Official Report, column 42W.

JUSTICE

Driving Offences

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will request the Sentencing Guidelines Council to review sentencing guidelines for offences of driving without insurance to provide that the penalty imposed by the courts is greater than the average annual cost of motor insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The Sentencing Guidelines Council was abolished on 6 April 2010 and was replaced on the same date by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. It is for the Sentencing Council as an independent body to decide whether existing guidelines need to be reviewed, and the content of its guidelines.
	Sentencing Guidelines are clear that the amount of a fine must reflect the seriousness of the offence. The court must also take into account the financialcircumstances of the offender, so that the impact is equal on offenders with different incomes; it should be a hardship but not force an offender below a reasonable subsistence level. For the offence of driving without insurance the guideline is that a 'Band C' fine should be imposed, with a starting point of 150% of weekly income.
	I am looking into the position and will write to the hon. Member.

Driving Offences

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the level of fine payable on conviction of an offence of keeping a car without insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The maximum sentence available on conviction for keeping a car without insurance is a £1,000 fine. Within that statutory limit, it is for the court to decide what to impose in a particular case, taking into account the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of the offender. I am looking into the position and will write to the hon. Member.

Community Orders: Technology

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration has been given to the use of recent technology in developing innovative alternatives to custody as part of his Department's review of sentencing policy.

Crispin Blunt: The Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle" proposes to make curfews tougher to punish offenders and give communities respite from criminal behaviour. It expects curfews to be used more creatively to target offending patterns, and assist compliance with other requirements. It also proposes the use of other technology, such as satellite tracking, to improve surveillance.
	We are always looking at ways to enhance the supervision of offenders in the community. Following a pilot several years ago it was found that the GPS technology for tracking the movements of offenders was not robust enough. However, we have kept the technology under review and have been exploring a number of uses including whether GPS tracking would be a useful tool to monitor certain offenders.

Community Orders: Voluntary Organisations

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms have been considered as means of enabling the voluntary sector to implement innovative approaches to ensuring that offenders complete community orders as part of his Department's review of sentencing policy.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Business Plan 2011-15 sets out that we will no longer provide rehabilitation services directly without testing where the private, voluntary or community sectors can provide it more effectively and efficiently.
	The payment by results approach will encourage innovation and bring out the diverse skills from all sectors. In exploring payment by results options we will consider the specific barriers for these smaller providers and will identify options which will best enable them to be part of a dynamic mixed market of provision.

Community Orders: Voluntary Organisations

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received from private and voluntary sector providers interested in providing alternatives to custody as part of his Department's review of sentencing policy.

Crispin Blunt: As part of the consultation process on the Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders", the Ministry of Justice received over 1,200 responses. Of these, approximately 180 were from voluntary and community sector organisations, and approximately 90 were from private organisations. Policy officials are currently still in the process of considering the consultation responses.
	As part of the development of the "Breaking the Cycle" Green Paper, the Ministry worked closely with the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group and a broader group of voluntary sector partners in developing the range of proposals. We also fund the third sector infrastructure organisation Clinks to provide a voice for the sector. Clinks consulted and fed in the views of a range of mainly small- and medium-sized voluntary and community organisations working with offenders. In addition, policy officials also met representatives from the private and public sector during the development of the Green Paper proposals.

Crime: Alcoholic Drinks

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people normally resident in  (a) Poole constituency and  (b) the criminal justice area covering Poole constituency were convicted of alcohol-related offences in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply.
	From information held by the Ministry of Justice, the number of persons found guilty at courts in Dorset police force area for alcohol related offences, for the years 2005 to 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	This information is not available at parliamentary constituency level and the place of residence of those convicted of an offence cannot be identified from data held centrally.
	Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
	
		
			  Number of persons found guilty in Dorset police force area for alcohol related offences( 1) , 2005 to 2009( 2,3) 
			  Dorset police force area  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Found guilty 1,190 1,145 1,230 1,168 1,132 
			 (1) Includes offences of; (a) Drunkenness. (b) Drunkenness with aggravation. (c) Offences by licensed person or others acting on their behalf.  (d) Other offences (against intoxicating liquor laws). (e) Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs-Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Data Protection: Clubs

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has assessed the merits of extending data protection exemptions conferred on charities to include sports clubs.

Jonathan Djanogly: An exemption from the requirement to provide an annual notification to the Information Commissioner currently exists for non profit-making organisations, relating to processing of their members' personal data for administrative purposes. It is likely that many sports clubs may already rely on this exemption.
	The Government will consider any changes to the UK's own data protection legislation as part of the forthcoming negotiations on a new EU data protection legal instrument. A legislative proposal from the European Commission, due to be published in the summer, is expected to address the issue of notification to national data protection authorities.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials in his Department are provided with mobile communication devices; and how much his Department spent on mobile telephones and related data services in the last year for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: Mobile communications devices in the Ministry of Justice are supplied to officials on the basis of established business need. As at December 2010, the total number of mobile communication devices supplied to officials in Ministry of Justice headquarters (HQ), Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS) and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was 10,649. This comprises 7,956 mobile phones, 2,190 BlackBerrys and Smartphones, and 503 other devices (e.g. data cards). Overall expenditure on mobile telephones and related services for 2009-10 for HQ, HMPS and HMCTS was £2.26 million. The number and cost for BlackBerrys supplied to the national probation service (NPS) are included in these figures, however, data on mobile phones for the NPS is not included, as records for these are not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the staff vacancy rate in his Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in his Department's budget for 2011-12.

Jonathan Djanogly: The vacancy rates for 2010-11 are given in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) 6 
			 Wider MoJ 4.7 
		
	
	In developing budgets for 2011-12 no specific vacancy rate has been assumed. The number of vacancies in the forthcoming year will depend upon turnover rates and the ability to redeploy displaced staff.

Discrimination

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the financial effects on his Department of the non-implementation of the dual discrimination rules in the Equality Act 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: According to the impact assessment published by the Government Equalities Office in April 2010, the financial cost for courts and tribunals of implementing the dual discrimination provision in the Equality Act 2010 have been assessed at £251,728, over 10 years, for cases where only a dual discrimination case was brought; when a complaint of dual discrimination was brought with one or more other single strand discrimination complaints it was thought that the hearing duration would have increased by one third. Since a decision has been taken not to implement the provision, it will no longer have that impact on the Department.

Employment Agencies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on  (a) recruitment agency fees,  (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and  (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available.

Kenneth Clarke: All figures given are for the financial year 2009-10 and cover the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty's Courts Service, the Tribunals Service, the National Offender Management Service and the Office of the Public Guardian. These organisations had a total of over 94,000 staff at the time.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Recruitment agency fees (1)n/a 
			 Outplacement agency fees 1,860 
			 Training costs(2) 11,695,000 
			 (1 )It would incur disproportionate costs to identify these costs as we use the same suppliers for permanent staff, temporary staff, and some consultancy. It is therefore, impossible to pull out the specific costs for agency fees as these are not separated from daily rates, expenses etc. (2 )This figure has come from the published resource accounts category "Training and Other Staff Costs". The MoJ and its executive agencies use a wide variety of training methods and it is not possible to capture all of these from the internal accounting system. As well as providing online learning opportunities through the Justice Academy, many staff are job skills trainers, who provide training and support to colleagues in specific skills e.g. bespoke IT packages or local processes. Staff can also access books and other resources from the Learning Library and go through these at their own pace. If the MoJ isn't able to offer a suitable course for a staff member, then external training providers may be used.

Land Registry

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he next expects to meet staff representatives to discuss the future of the Land Registry.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Minister of State, my noble Friend (Lord McNally), has agreed to meet with staff representatives of the Land Registry once consideration of the recent Feasibility Study into the opportunities presented by private sector involvement in the Land Registry has concluded, and before any public announcement has been made. A date has not yet been set for those meetings.

Law: Repealed

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many laws have been repealed since May 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: Given the limited time available it has not been possible to collate the information that has been requested.
	However, I would like to assure the hon. Member that the Government are committed to the repeal of legislation which is no longer necessary. The Ministry of Justice is working with departments across Government to prepare a Repeals Bill with a view to taking forward legislation when parliamentary time allows.
	The Bill aims to repeal legislative provisions in all areas of law that do not work as intended because they are unnecessary, obsolete or unworkable. This will reduce burdens on people and businesses and result in better law.
	The Bill is one of a number of measures to take forward the Government's commitment to removing unnecessary laws from the statute book and rolling back state intrusion in people's lives. Other related measures include the abolition of ID cards; the Protection of Freedoms Bill currently before Parliament; and the Your Freedom public engagement exercise which took place over the summer.

Legal Aid Scheme: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for legal aid from residents in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London borough of Bexley were granted in each of the last three years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is responsible for administering the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. The LSC does not record the number of applications granted to individual people who apply for legal aid, whether successful or not, but instead records the number of 'acts of assistance'. One individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance, and one act of assistance can help more than one person.
	We are re-examining the data in respect of the geographical areas requested and I will write separately with this information.

Prisons: Private Finance Initiative

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons have been operating under the private finance initiative since 1997.

Crispin Blunt: Nine prisons have been built and operated under the private finance initiatives since 1997. Further details are available on the HMPS website
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/privateprison/

Prisons: Standards

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what comparative analysis he has undertaken of the reports on standards in  (a) private sector and  (b) public sector prisons undertaken by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: No comparative analysis of the reports of HM chief inspector of prisons has been undertaken specifically on standards in private and public sector prisons. Since 2009-10, the prison rating system (PRS) has been the single framework for assessing the performance of both public and contracted prisons in England and Wales; the results from HM inspectorate of prison's healthy prisons tests form part of the framework. Once the ratings have been finalised, they are published on the Ministry's website.

Probation: Voluntary Organisations

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration has been given to means of ensuring that probation trusts increase the involvement of the voluntary sector in managing offenders as part of his Department's review of sentencing policy.

Crispin Blunt: The Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders" explores ways in which we can further develop the role of the voluntary and community sector, for example in relation to integrated offender management and access to accommodation for ex-offenders. The payment-by-results approach we are adopting will bring out the diverse skills from all sectors, including the small and specialist voluntary providers and social enterprises.
	We are considering the responses we have received to the consultation on the Green Paper and intend to publish our response in May.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted under section 1 of the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 in relation to public protests.

Crispin Blunt: Section 1(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 provides that a person must not pursue a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another, and which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of the other. Section 1(1A) states that a person must not pursue a course of conduct involving the 'harassment of two or more persons, which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment, and which' is intended to persuade them (or somebody else) not to do something that they are entitled or required to do or to do something that they are not under any obligation to do.
	A defendant who pursues a course of conduct in breach of section 1(1) or section 1(1 A) is guilty of an offence under section 2 of the Act.
	The Ministry of Justice court proceedings database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Other than where specified in a statute, statistical information available centrally does not include the circumstances of each case. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those proceedings under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which specifically occurred in relation to public protests.
	Charging data are not available centrally.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for injunction were made under section 3 of the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 in each of the last five years; on what grounds the injunctions were sought; and in how many cases the injunction was granted.

Crispin Blunt: There were 361 applications for injunctions and 283 injunctions granted under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 between April 2009 and December 2009 and 457 and 375 respectively in 2010. Comparable data for previous periods are not available.
	The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures centrally according to the ground on which the injunctions were sought under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This information could be obtained only through the examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Human Trafficking

Nia Griffith: To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Crown Prosecution Service to publish its public policy statement on the prosecution of cases involving human trafficking.

Dominic Grieve: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey) earlier today.

CABINET OFFICE

Land Registry

Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the proposed Public Data Corporation is to take over the work of the Land Registry.

Francis Maude: One of the aims the Government have set themselves on Public Data Corporation is to create a centre of excellence for collecting, holding and managing public data, driving further efficiencies and improving productivity across the public sector.
	The Government are considering whether machinery of government changes to bring some organisations under the sponsorship of one Department could assist in furthering this aim and whether the merits of change would outweigh the costs.
	Until decisions are taken it would be premature to announce which bodies may be involved. Further details will be announced if the Government decide to proceed with these changes.

Prostate Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many men in each age group were diagnosed with prostate cancer in each of the last five years; and what proportion  (a) died and  (b) recovered in each such year.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many men in each age group were diagnosed with prostate cancer in each of the last five years; and what proportion (a) died and (b) recovered in each such year.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer (incidence) are for the year 2008. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	The numbers of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer in England by age group, in each year from 2004 to 2008, are presented in Table 1.
	ONS does not publish figures on what proportion of people diagnosed with a cancer (a) died or (b) recovered. Instead, ONS publishes figures on one-year and five-year relative survival for adults diagnosed with cancer, by age group and sex.
	Relative survival is an estimate of the probability of survival from cancer alone. This takes into account the fact that some cancer patients will die from other causes other than their cancer during the period in question.
	For some cancers, five-year survival figures are interpreted as 'cure' rates. However, some prostate cancer tumours progress very slowly and may not cause symptoms or death. Patients diagnosed with these types of tumours are monitored in the first instance, rather than being treated with a view to being 'cured'. For these reasons, five-year survival from prostate cancer is not the same as 'recovery' or 'cure'.
	The latest one-year and five-year survival rates available for adults diagnosed with prostate cancer are for men diagnosed in 2003-2007 and followed up to 2008. These figures are presented by age group in Table 2.
	ONS does not publish site-specific cancer survival figures by single year of diagnosis. For statistical reliability, figures are published for three- to five-year periods, to avoid over-interpretation of random year on year fluctuations.
	The latest published figures on the incidence of prostate cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/mb1-39/mb1-no39-2008.pdf
	The latest one-year survival figures available for England, for 21 common cancers, for patients diagnosed in 2003-2007 and followed up to the end of 2008, are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14007
	Comparable survival rates for England for each preceding five year period back to 1998-2001 and followed up to 2003 can also be downloaded from this link.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer by age group, males, England, 2004-08( 1, 2) 
			  Age group  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 0-49 206 229 250 237 284 
			 50-59 3,077 3,042 3,151 3,200 3,082 
			 60-69 9,294 9,322 9,722 9,949 10,100 
			 70-79 11,664 11,072 11,712 11,600 11,429 
			 80+ 6,734 6,388 6,641 6,250 5,998 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded as C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Based on newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: One  and five-year relative survival with 95% confidence intervals (CI), for males (15-99 years) diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2003-07, England, by age group( 1, 2, 3) 
			   One-year survival  Five-year survival 
			  Age group  %  95%  CI  %  95%  CI 
			 15-49 96 94 97 81 77 84 
			 50-59 98 98 98 90 90 91 
			 60-69 98 98 98 91 90 91 
			 70-79 95 95 95 85 84 85 
			 80-99 83 82 83 59 58 60 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded as C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Adult patients aged 15-99. (3) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

Third Sector

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) residents,  (b) groups and  (c) organisations who have participated in each of the Big Society vanguard areas.

Greg Clark: I have been asked to reply.
	The information on the number of groups and residents is not held centrally.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy/Laity

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Church Commissioners have made of the number of  (a) clergy and  (b) laity who joined the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church in the last 10 years.

Tony Baldry: As I said on 1 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 162-63, in response to a question from the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell), figures held by the Archbishops Council show that in the past five years 14 former Roman Catholic priests have sought to be received into ordained ministry within the Church of England. As there is also discretion at diocesan level for acceptance into the ministry, not all candidates are centrally recorded, so the national figure is likely to be higher. I do not have statistics for the past 10 years and it would be difficult to make a meaningful estimate.
	Similarly, in relation to laity the Church does not keep central figures for the movements from one denomination to another, so meaningful estimates are not possible. But the history of the Church of England over the past 500 years illustrates that traffic between denominations is never simply one-way.
	The Church of England is happy to welcome people of all denominations, faiths and none to services and events within its churches.

Zurbarán Paintings

Alan Beith: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what consultation the Church Commissioners have undertaken on the future of the Zurbarán paintings in Auckland castle.

Tony Baldry: I know the right hon. Member has taken a close interest in this, and I am delighted to have another opportunity to tell the House that the paintings by Zurbarán will be staying at Auckland castle, not least as a result of an extremely generous gesture from Mr Jonathan Ruffer, who has donated the funds necessary to create a Trust, which will buy and maintain the paintings in the castle.
	I would like to repeat my thanks to all concerned in putting together this deal, and especially to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman).

Social Cohesion

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the potential contribution of Church of England schools to social cohesion between faith communities and between ethnic groups.

Tony Baldry: In 2009 an independent academic study was undertaken of Ofsted data, which assessed schools' progress on the duty to promote community cohesion and tackle inequality. This study revealed that faith based schools-and church secondary schools in particular-contribute more highly to community cohesion and tackling inequality than community schools.
	The findings of this study were then published in a report by the Church of England's Education division.
	I will place a copy of the report in the Library for hon. Members to peruse at their leisure.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Prisoners: Enfranchisement

Stephen Pound: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward legislation on the enfranchisement of prisoners.

Mark Harper: In light of the strong views expressed in Parliament, the Government have asked that the most recent European Court of Human Rights case against the UK, "Greens and MT", be referred to the Grand Chamber-the higher tier of the Court.
	We await the outcome of that referral request.

Electoral Register

Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to increase the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Mark Harper: Maintaining a complete and accurate electoral register is the responsibility of electoral registration officers (EROs). It is clear that more can be done to support completeness and accuracy. So we have announced plans to speed up the implementation of individual electoral registration in 2014, which will ensure that only those entitled to vote will get on the register. And we are also trialling data matching this year to help identify people missing from the register. If successful, we will consider rolling this out across the country.

Alternative Vote

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on preparations for the referendum on the use of the alternative vote system for elections to the House of Commons.

Mark Harper: The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act received Royal Assent on 16 February, providing the legislative framework for a referendum on 5 May. The Electoral Commission has responsibility for running referendums and is working with electoral administrators to prepare for the poll.

Elected Representatives: Recall

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his proposals for the recall of elected representatives will apply to local councillors.

Mark Harper: The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation to introduce a power to recall Members of Parliament where they have engaged in serious wrongdoing.
	Once a recall system is introduced for MPs, consideration will need to be given as to whether other elected offices in the UK should be subject to the same system.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Feed: Prices

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the factors underlying trends in farmgate prices for feed wheat in the last 12 months.

James Paice: UK cereal prices largely reflect the supply and demand situation on the world market. The increase in farmgate prices for feed wheat over the last 12 months are a reaction to the lower wheat production in Russia and other Black Sea countries, and the subsequent implementation of grain export restrictions by Russia and Ukraine. An additional factor is higher energy prices, which have pushed up farm input costs such as fuel and fertiliser.

Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on animal welfare standards in countries from which the UK imports food; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Government view animal welfare as a matter of high priority. As well as promoting high animal welfare standards in this country, we are keen to encourage high animal welfare standards internationally, both in other European Union countries and in third countries.
	On an EU level, discussions were held at the EU Agriculture Council on 21 February, where the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs refused to accept an attempt by some EU member states to delay a ban on battery cages for laying hens, due to be implemented in 2012. Although there have been no other recent discussions at ministerial level, the UK Government continue to make it clear that we will not support requests for derogations from or delays to the introduction of higher welfare standards in the EU.
	In terms of animal welfare standards in countries outside the EU from which the UK imports food, we are working with countries within the World Organisation for Animal Health to develop and progress internationally recognised standards of animal welfare. Bilateral agreements between the EU and its main current and prospective trading partners provide an opportunity to promote high welfare standards, although the EU cannot refuse on welfare grounds to honour market access rights conferred under World Trade Organisation rules.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the  (a) statutory and  (b) parliamentary processes required to be satisfied before any cull of badgers in England can be implemented; what assessment she has made of the minimum time within which such requirements can be completed; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 provides for licences to be granted to kill or take badgers for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease.
	No decision on badger control has yet been taken. We received a large number of responses to the public consultation on "Bovine Tuberculosis: The Government's approach to tackling the disease and consultation on a badger control policy", which closed on 8 December 2010. We are carefully considering the responses and we will announce our decision as soon as possible, as part of a comprehensive and balanced TB Eradication programme for England.

Farmers: Supermarkets

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of supermarket codes of practice on the prices paid to farmers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The purpose of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) is not to oversee the price paid to farmers and as such no assessment of its impact on the prices paid to farmers has been made.
	When the Competition Commission investigated the groceries market it found that large retailers with buyer power could transfer excessive risks and unexpected costs to their direct suppliers, which was likely to reduce suppliers' incentives to invest in new capacity, products and production processes. If unchecked these practices would ultimately have a detrimental effect on consumers. In response the Commission introduced the GSCOP.
	The Government will be introducing a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to monitor and enforce the GSCOP. The Commission found that very few farmers supplied retailers direct. However, the Government have decided to allow direct and indirect suppliers of groceries to complain to the GCA, on an anonymous basis, when they believe that they may have suffered from an alleged breach of the GSCOP.
	The Government believe that the setting of prices is a commercial matter to be resolved by private negotiation, which should take place within the parameters set by competition law. The market should determine prices.

Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department plans to take in response to the recommendation from the Sustainable Development Commission that it should produce a strategy to increase fruit production;
	(2)  what plans she has to respond to the recommendation from the Sustainable Development Commission that her Department should produce a strategy for sustainable food production;
	(3)  what plans she has to respond to the recommendation from the Sustainable Development Commission that her Department should produce a strategy to reduce the levels of grain foodstuffs used in the meat and dairy industry;
	(4)  what plans she has to respond to the recommendation from the Sustainable Development Commission that her Department should work to create local food partnerships to meet local sustainability targets.

James Paice: The Sustainable Development Commission ceased its activities on 31 March 2011 prior to its formal closure. We are working with the food industry and across Government to ensure that we have a sustainable food industry capable of dealing with a growing population and changing climate while protecting biodiversity. The Foresight report on Global Food and Farming Futures has given us a roadmap for how to go forward with this in conjunction with governments around the world.
	The Taskforce on barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable production and consumption reported in August 2010 and agreed an action plan in October 2010. The Taskforce consisted of industry leaders including growers, retailers, researchers, and health advisers. They propose continuing the upward trend of UK production of indigenous fruit over five years to meet 50% of consumption. Consumption had grown from 33% in 1998 to 38% 10 years later. Both the SDC and the Taskforce acknowledge that the UK will never be totally self sufficient in fruit, especially fruits such as bananas and citrus.
	Although swill feeding is banned, EU legislation permits the use in feed of certain low-risk foodstuffs, such as surplus bread, cakes, confectionary (not-containing ruminant gelatine), vegetables and fruit, which are no longer intended for human consumption, provided they are only sourced from food manufacturing sources or retail establishments and procedures for adequate separation can be established preventing any contact with meat, fish and other animal by-products.
	A significant amount of local food activity already exists, working to address local concerns about health, sustainability, social cohesion and the economy. Such activity ranges from very small scale, such as community gardens, to larger scale producer networks, food hubs and small businesses, such as box schemes. I recently met with the English Food and Drink Alliance, which consists of regional food groups and initiatives working across the food chain, to understand how they are working. I also urge Local Enterprise Partnerships, where appropriate, to encourage local food hubs, which bring growers, processors and small food businesses together in sustainable operations. In addition, the Plunkett Foundation will soon be launching the findings of Social Enterprise Action Research funded by Government to explore the role of social enterprise in food policy in England.

Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to implement the terms of the Food 2030 plan since May 2010.

James Paice: This Government are taking practical action to support British farming, encourage sustainable food production and help to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the whole food chain. This will ensure a secure, environmentally sustainable and healthy supply of food with improved standards of animal welfare. To meet these objectives, since May 2010, we have taken the following actions:
	 UK Action
	Government Buying Standards will be published in the next few weeks which will, for the first time, set out what constitutes healthier and more sustainable food and catering services for the public sector.
	Established the industry-led Task Force on Farming Regulation which will identify ways to reduce the regulatory burden for all farm sectors.
	Invested £13.6 million of Government funding for collaborative research, with matching contributions from industry, through the Technology Strategy Board's first call for research under the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform (co-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and DEFRA).
	A Taskforce on barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable production and consumption reported in August and agreed an action plan in October 2010.
	The Groceries Code Adjudicator will be established very soon, which will help to strike a balance between farmers and food producers getting a fair deal, and supermarkets ensuring their customers are getting the high-quality food they want at a price they can afford.
	Encouraged Local Enterprise Partnerships and local development hubs as vehicles to encourage local food hubs which bring growers, processors and small food businesses together.
	Continued engagement with consumers (e.g. via Love Food Hate Waste) and work with industry (e.g. via the Courtauld Commitment) to prevent food waste arising wherever possible.
	Reviewed all the farming and food advisory groups across DEFRA and reduced down to one group focused on the issues facing farming, food and rural communities.
	Funded research to support sustainable food production by developing options to reduce negative impacts on the environment and support biodiversity. Also research to develop the evidence base on sustainable, healthy diets.
	Produced an Aquaculture Plan for England setting out how the industry will develop itself, including a review of relevant regulations as part of this process.
	Launched 'Fishing for the Markets' which looks to encourage consumption of under-utilised, sustainable species that are often discarded.
	Made commitments on uplands including a guarantee that 100% of hill farmers eligible to enter Uplands Entry Level Stewardship-the key environmental management scheme-will be able to do so, which would be worth up to an extra £6 million a year from within the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Also, creation of an "Uplands Theme" in the new delivery arrangements for the socio-economic elements of RDPE to target support to hill farmers, details of which will be announced later in the year.
	 Global Action
	Set out actions for Government after publication of the recent Foresight Report 'The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and Choices for Global Sustainability' including an international workshop on food waste.
	Provided £2.9 billion towards tackling issues related to land use and food production abroad, with a significant amount of this money to be used for addressing illegal logging, deforestation and ensuring forestry contributes to climate change mitigation.
	Commissioned an evidence study to map the UK's palm oil consumption to understand how far the commitments that businesses have already made to sustainable sourcing will take us, and to consider whether further action is needed. Also convened (jointly with the Netherlands Government) a meeting with business leaders to discuss how to mainstream sustainable palm oil.
	In the ongoing EU negotiations on new food labelling rules, we have successfully extended the current text to include compulsory origin labelling to fresh and frozen meat with the possibility of further extension to other foods.

Forestry Commission

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss her Department's policy on the future of  (a) the Forestry Commission and  (b) Forestry Commission land.

James Paice: I have had meetings with a number of ministerial colleagues on the future of the Forestry Commission and the public forest estate.

Forests

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the number of woodlands and forest areas in the ownership of the Forestry Commission which do not have public access rights.

James Paice: The public forest is owned by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967.
	Statutory access on foot to the land in freehold ownership is protected under the provisions of the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 and in the New Forest under the Law of Property Act 1923. The freehold area that does not currently have statutory access protected amounts to less than 10,600 hectares. This comprises around 120 separate deeds.
	Of the land in leasehold ownership 55,168 hectares have no legally protected access rights. This comprises around a further 570 separate deeds.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of UK listed companies which have reported on their greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with her Department's guidance in 2009-10.

James Paice: The report that I submitted to Parliament on 30 November 2010 on "The contribution that reporting of greenhouse gas emissions makes to the UK meeting its climate change objectives" refers to the recent Environment Agency report "Environmental Disclosures: The third major review of environmental reporting in the annual report and accounts of the FTSE All-Share companies".
	Following the guidance issued by the previous Government, this report found that 99 out of 458 FTSE All-Share companies (22%) reported quantitative information on climate change and energy use in line with that guidance.

Horse Passports

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether officials of her Department have discussed with European Commission the possibility of a UK derogation in respect of horse passport regulations.

James Paice: Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 allows member states to apply derogations concerning the identification of certain equidae living under wild or semi-wild conditions. In the UK this has been exercised in a number of areas in Wales, and in the New Forest and on Exmoor and Dartmoor in England.

Horses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider the merits of measures to prohibit the long-term tethering of horses.

James Paice: I consider that the existing law already protects horses and other equidae against long-term tethering. Long-term tethering could constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act because it restricts a horse's ability to exercise, to find food and water or to escape from attacks by dogs or extremities of the weather.
	In addition to the 2006 Act, DEFRA introduced a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and their Hybrids which includes advice on tethering, and it is one of the priority issues for secondary legislation under the 2006 Act. The code does not contain any offences but it could be used in court as evidence to support a case of poor horse welfare. A copy of the code can be downloaded from the DEFRA website at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/documents/cop-horse.pdf

Oak

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on measures to combat acute oak decline; and whether she has made an assessment of the likely effects of the condition on woodland in England in the next 10 years.

James Paice: The Forestry Commission is leading an ongoing research programme into acute oak decline. Scientists from Forest Research have discovered a number of previously unknown bacteria which they believe are playing a key role. Further work, to obtain a better understanding of the disease, how it spreads, and what other factors might be involved, is continuing.
	The Forestry Commission is monitoring the effect of the disease on oak to ascertain the impact that it may have over the next 10 years. Early indications are that on average 25% of trees on susceptible sites show symptoms of acute oak decline. From 2006 to 2010 the number of confirmed incidences rose from eight to 44. Current studies by Forest Research suggest that after one year 1% of the trees showing symptoms had died. Most reports of symptomatic oaks are from the midlands, however reports from south-east England and Wales have also been received.

Rural Development Programme: Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to simplify the applications process for claiming funding under the Rural Development programme; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: I announced in my written ministerial statement on 28 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, that responsibility for delivery of the socio-economic elements of the Rural Development programme for England will transfer from the eight existing Regional Development Agencies to DEFRA. As part of these transitional plans we shall be implementing a more nationally consistent approach to Programme delivery including the introduction of application processes which are simplified but also continue to ensure that programme delivery continues to comply with the EU regulations governing the programme. Work to deliver this outcome is currently in progress with the intention of being implemented at the earliest opportunity over the forthcoming year.

Wild Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of snares on wild animals.

James Paice: DEFRA has commissioned a project to look into the extent of use and humaneness of snares. The report has not yet been finalised but is expected later this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2011,  Official Report, column 429W, on asylum: housing, how many of the homes provided to people seeking asylum by local authority consortia under contracts with the UK Border Agency were  (a) in the private rented sector,  (b) in accommodation owned or managed by local authorities and  (c) in accommodation owned or managed by registered social landlords in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The accommodation contracts do not stipulate that details relating to the category of property ownership needs to be provided to the UK Border Agency. However, we are able to estimate that the current situation is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of properties 
			  LA provider  In private rented sector  Owned or managed by local authorities  Owned or managed by registered social landlords 
			 Glasgow CC 0 0 100 
			 NECAS 0 95 5 
			 Y&H Consortium 28 46 26 
			 NW Consortium 0 36 64 
			 Liverpool CC 95 0 5 
			 West Midlands Consortium 2 80 18 
			 Cardiff CC 79 6 15 
			 Swansea CC 0 100 0

Asylum: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2011,  Official Report, column 429W, on asylum: housing, what contingency plans are in place to house people seeking asylum in circumstances where all accommodation provided by local authorities or local authority consortia under contracts with the UK Border Agency is already taken up; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: In the unlikely event that a local authority provider is unable to provide a sufficient amount of accommodation as per the terms and conditions of their contract, the UK Border Agency would utilise capacity available to us through contracts with alternate providers in the same region.
	We are satisfied that the capacity available to us across all contracts provides sufficient amounts of accommodation in every region.

Asylum: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011,  Official Report, column 647W, on asylum: housing, what discussions her Department has held to date with providers of accommodation to people seeking asylum in order to establish  (a) the number of families likely to be subject to a physical move, (b) the extent to which this could involve disruption for school age children and  (c) the mitigating measures that can be put in place; whether any further discussions are planned; and whether the outcomes of such discussions will be made public.

Damian Green: We are encouraging providers to transfer management of properties thereby allowing the asylum seeker(s) to remain in situ. However, if this is not achievable there are ongoing, daily discussions with all accommodation providers to decide when it becomes necessary to move asylum seeking people as the contracts expire. There are no plans to release the details of these discussions.
	We estimate that there are likely to be up to 310 families with children who will be required to move to an alternative property. We are hopeful that children will remain within their current school but can not guarantee this.
	As a result of this, UK Border Agency regional directors are personally reviewing cases where there is potential for a move which could disrupt schooling.

Asylum: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011,  Official Report, column 647W, on asylum: housing, what related services and other duties the providers of accommodation to people seeking asylum through contracts with the UK Border Agency provide to those they house; what procedures and guidelines are in place to ensure that such duties are met; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Details of all the services required under our accommodation and related services contracts are contained within The Statement of Requirements, which is available in the Members' Library and can be accessed from the Home Office public website.

Asylum: Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average number of times a person or family seeking asylum and housed in accommodation provided through contracts with the UK Border Agency was obliged to move home during the period that such accommodation was provided in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Moves to alternative asylum support accommodation may be instigated by supported persons, by the UK Border Agency or by accommodation providers themselves. Internal management information suggests that between these three categories, approximately 9,400 households were approved for a move during 2010. This would equate to each household being moved once every two to three years.

British Nationality

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints against British citizens alleged to have been active Wachmänner guards during the Second World War her Department has received in the last five years.

Nick Herbert: We have no record of any such complaints being received.
	The investigation of criminal offences, including those under the War Crimes Act 1991, is an operational matter. Arrangements are in place within the Metropolitan police service for investigating allegations of war crimes in liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and other agencies as appropriate. All agencies take the investigation of war crimes seriously and these arrangements remain under review to ensure that they continue to be effective.

Departmental Contracts

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department and its associated public bodies signed with Lockheed Martin in each of the last 10 years; and for what purposes each such contract was let.

Damian Green: The Home Department and its associated public bodies has or has had contractual relationships with Lockheed Martin, which concern operational matters or matters relating to national security. It is the established policy of successive Governments not to comment on these matters.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public sector job reduction targets have been set for her Department and its non-departmental public bodies for each of the next 24 months; and what steps she plans to take to meet such targets.

Damian Green: The Home Office is planning to reduce its total work force by 6500 (full-time equivalents) over the next four years. Work force plans have been agreed that will support the Department to meet that commitment including reductions over the next 24 months to 28,839 FTE by 31 March 2012 and to 27,237 FTE by 31 March 2013(1).
	The precise timing of these planned reductions over the next 24 months will be dependent on the business needs of the department's agencies and the implementation of organisational change.
	The Home Office is currently in consultation with its arm's length bodies to establish similar plans for their work force. These are not yet finalised and therefore numbers can not be provided.
	The Home Office has implemented two voluntary exit schemes to enable staff to leave the Department. We have a recruitment freeze in place and will continue to reduce substantially numbers of agency workers and contractors throughout the next 24 months. We have introduced a new restructuring, redeployment and redundancy policy which sets out a fair and consistent approach, helping staff to find redeployment opportunities and using redundancy as a last resort.
	(1) Note that these figures are total work force, which include permanent civil servants, contractors, agency workers and secondees.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department are provided with mobile communication devices; and how much her Department spent on mobile telephones and related data services in the last year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The Home Office including its Executive Agencies provides 13,644 mobile communications devices to its officials, comprising of mobile phones, BlackBerrys and mobile Broadband devices for laptops. Expenditure by the Department on mobile telephones and related data services to mid-January of the FY 2010-11 was £2.1 million.

Departmental Public Bodies

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2011,  Official Report, column 777W, on departmental public appointments, how many  (a) women and  (b) men no longer serve on public bodies sponsored by her Department because of decisions to close, merge or reorganise such bodies taken since her appointment.

Damian Green: Pursuant to my answer of 21 March 2011,  Official Report, column 777W, more detailed information on the number of departmental public appointments affected, or likely to be affected, by decisions to close, merge or reorganise public bodies sponsored by the Department is set out in the following table.
	The Security Industry Authority will no longer be an NDPB and the National Policing Improvement Agency is currently being phased out so appointments to these bodies will be dissolved in due course along with the organisations. The Women's National Commission was abolished on 31 December 2010. The three remaining bodies are subject to mergers and a reorganisation and at this stage it is too early to say what the impact on the public appointments to these bodies will be.
	
		
			  Public body  Reform as published on 16 March 2011  Number of male public appointments  Number of female public appointments  Total public appointments 
			 Security Industry Authority No longer an NDPB-Phased transition to new regulatory regime 3 3 6 
			 National Policing Improvement Agency No longer an NDPB-Currently considering which functions must be delivered nationally and where they should sit in a rationalised national policing landscape, as previously announced 4 0 4 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency Merge-Merge functions into the new National Crime Agency, as previously announced 3 1 (1)6 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority Merge-Government have announced that ISA and Criminal Records Bureau are to be merged and a new single organisation established 7 4 11 
			 Equalities and Human Rights Commission Retain and substantially reform-Retain on the grounds of performing a function that requires impartiality, with better focus on its core regulatory functions and improved use of taxpayers' money. 4 10 14 
			 Women's National Commission Body abolished 31 December 2010 and core functions brought into the Government Equalities Office, ensuring direct Ministerial engagement with women and women's organisations 0 15 15

Departmental Public Transport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of her ministerial team have been issued with  (a) an Oyster card and  (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by her Department for use while travelling on Government business.

Damian Green: No oyster cards, monthly or annual travel cards have been issued by the Home Office to any member of the ministerial team.

Departmental Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staff vacancy rate in her Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in her Department's budget for 2011-12.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not capture the number of vacancies held and therefore cannot provide vacancy rates. The business plans for 2011-12 assume minimal external recruitment.

Deportation: Eastern Europe

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) women and  (b) children were deported to eastern European countries outside the EU in each year since 2000; and how many of those deported were victims of human trafficking.

Damian Green: The following table shows the number of women and children who were removed or departed voluntarily to eastern European countries outside the EU in each year from 2004 to 2010. The EU expanded during this period; footnotes in the table indicate when accession countries are included or excluded, according to their accession date.
	
		
			  Removals and voluntary departures( 1, 2, 3)  of women and children from the United Kingdom to eastern European countries outside the EU( 4, 5, 6) , 2004- 10 
			  Number of departures 
			   Women( 7)  Children( 8) 
			 2004 1,970 1,115 
			 2005 1,125 670 
			 2006 1,140 510 
			 2007 805 210 
			 2008 610 140 
			 2009(9) 530 120 
			 2010(9) 550 105 
			 (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. (2) Includes enforced removals, persons departing voluntarily after notifying the UK Border Agency of their intention to leave prior to their departure, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and persons who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (3) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. 
			 (4) Figures for all years include: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. (5) The figure for 2004 includes those removed or departed voluntarily to: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia during January-April 2004, but excludes those removed to these countries from May 2004 onwards following their accession to the EU. (6) Figures prior to 2007 include removals and voluntary departures to Bulgaria and Romania; figures from 2007 onwards exclude those removed to Bulgaria and Romania following their accession to the EU. (7) Those aged 18 or over at the time of their departure from the UK; excludes cases where age or gender is unknown. (8) Those aged under 18 at the time of their departure from the UK; excludes cases where age is unknown. (9) Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. 
		
	
	Destination data have only been collated since 2004; data for earlier years are not available.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research
	Since l April 2009, decisions about who is a victim of trafficking have been made by trained specialists in designated 'Competent Authorities'. Separate management information indicates that there have been no enforced returns of individuals conclusively found to be victims of trafficking by Competent Authorities returned to any of the eastern European countries outside the EU since 1 April 2009.
	New case types were implemented on the UK Border Agency Case Information Database (CID) from 1 April 2009 following the UK's implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The UK Border Agency did not capture data regarding victims of trafficking before this date.

Deportation: Eastern Europe

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) asylum seekers and  (b) victims of human trafficking were deported to eastern European countries outside the EU in each year from 2000 to 2005.

Damian Green: 6,295 asylum applicants (including dependants) were removed or departed voluntarily to eastern European countries outside the EU in 2004; and 4,580 in 2005. These figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	Destination data have only been collated since 2004; data for earlier years are not available.
	Figures for 2004 and 2005 include those removed or departed to the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
	Additionally, the figure for 2004 includes those removed or departed voluntarily to: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, during January-April 2004, but excludes those removed to these countries from May 2004 onwards following their accession to the EU.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/
	Since 1 April 2009, decisions about who is a victim of trafficking have been made by trained specialists in designated 'Competent Authorities'. New case types were implemented on the UK Border Agency Case Information Database (CID) from 1 April 2009 following the UK's implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The UK Border Agency did not capture data regarding victims of trafficking before this date.

Disturbances: Greater London

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 28 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 25-32, on disturbances (London), how many people have been charged to date in relation to the protest at Fortnum and Mason on 26 March 2011.

Nick Herbert: The Metropolitan police inform us that 138 individuals have so far been charged with offences arising out of the occupation of Fortnum and Mason's on 26 March.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2011,  Official Report, column 686W, on drugs: misuse, whether her Department plans to undertake research into the effects of the criminalisation of drugs.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has no plans to undertake research into the effects of the criminalisation of drugs.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) measures and  (b) indicators she intends to use to assess the effectiveness of the Government's drugs strategy.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 1 April 2011
	The 2010 Drug Strategy has two overarching aims: to 'Reduce illicit and other harmful drug use' and to 'Increase the numbers recovering from their dependence'. Relevant data are publicly available that will allow the public to assess how the Government are performing against the strategy's aims. Home Office data on drug use and supply are available on the transparency page of the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/
	Data from other Government Departments are available from:
	http://data.gov.uk/
	With regard to assessing the effectiveness of the 2010 Drug Strategy, the Government are developing plans to evaluate the impact of interventions to reduce demand for drugs, restrict their supply, and support and achieve recovery from drug dependence.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the decriminalisation and regulation of drugs which are currently prohibited.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 1 April 2011
	The Home Office has not commissioned or evaluated any research on the decriminalisation and regulation of drugs which are currently prohibited.

Entry Clearances: Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 22 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 855-872, on student visas, what assessment she has made of the cost to the economy of reducing the number of international student visas by 80,000.

Damian Green: An announcement on reforms was made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 22 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 855-872. An impact assessment will be published in due course.

Entry Clearances: Students

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 22 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 855-72, what definition of  (a) low-risk countries and  (b) high-risk students her Department uses.

Damian Green: For the purposes of enabling a streamlined Tier 4 application process, a low risk country is defined as one where the UK Border Agency has compiled significant evidence of high levels of compliance and low risk of abuse for students. A list of countries that meet the criteria is contained in the published policy document "Student Visas: Statement of Intent and Transition Measures". A copy is available in the House Library.
	For Tier 4 application process purposes we do not hold a list of countries categorised as high risk.
	From summer 2011 we will introduce a streamlined application process for certain low risk students, in general waiving the requirements to provide documentary evidence of maintenance and qualifications at the time of application. The substantive requirements will remain the same, including the 28 day rules for maintenance funds, and students must be able to provide the appropriate documents if subsequently requested.

Entry Clearances: Students

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many university students who entered the UK on study visas in each of the last three years were enrolled on  (a) science and  (b) humanities courses.

Damian Green: Information about the type of course enrolled on by those who have entered the UK on student visas is not held centrally. This information could be obtained only by checking individual visa records at disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals for a free multilingual national hotline for the use of  (a) victims of human trafficking and  (b) individuals reporting possible instances of human trafficking.

Damian Green: We have no plans to introduce a human trafficking hotline.
	Individuals wishing to report suspicions of trafficking can use the widely advertised Crime stoppers helpline or contact the local police force.

Human Trafficking

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of human trafficking her Department uses.

Damian Green: The UK uses the definition of trafficking set out in the United Nations Protocol to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which we ratified on 9 February 2006.

Human Trafficking

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to assess the performance of each police force in  (a) tackling and  (b) investigating offences of human trafficking; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the Government, who are committed to tackling organised crime groups who profit from this human misery, and to protecting victims.
	Our policy on performance is that police leaders should performance manage policing with minimal central interference or prescriptive targets.
	However, as an important check within the new accountability structures Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) will continue its vital work. HMIC are close to finalising their new monitoring and risk-based inspection arrangements for 2011-12 and their risk assessment work will allow the Inspectorate to examine any human trafficking risks identified by forces and assess how effectively they respond.

Human Trafficking: Females

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what factors were taken into account in assessing whether a woman had been trafficked into the UK in the period from 2000 to 2005;
	(2)  how many staff of her Department were trained to identify victims of trafficking in the period from 2000 to 2005.

Damian Green: The identification of victims of trafficking is a matter for front-line staff. From 2003 a trafficking toolkit was available to all law enforcement and immigration officers, which contained indicators that assisted practitioners in identifying whether someone was a victim of trafficking. This toolkit is no longer available, but was replaced in 2009.

Human Trafficking: South West

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police  (a) investigations and  (b) raids there were in relation to human trafficking offences in each local authority area in the South West in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: Information on human trafficking is not held by local authority area.

Immigrants: English Language

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2011,  Official Report, column 233W, on immigrants: English language, 
	(1)  when verification of the mapping of prospective providers of secure English language tests in relation to conference with the Common European Framework of Reference will  (a) begin and  (b) conclude; who has been appointed as the independent expert; and if she will publish the terms of employment of that expert;
	(2)  whether her Department has any plans to investigate the historical adherence of the secure English language test providers to the Common European Framework Reference; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency (UKBA) does not plan to investigate historical adherence of providers of secure English language tests to the Common European Framework of Reference. It will continue to investigate providers believed to be in breach of its published criteria on the provision of secure English language testing.
	As part of its current exercise to revise its list of secure English language test providers, the UK Border Agency conducted a verification exercise of the mapping of prospective providers of secure English language tests to the CEFR. Dr North (one of the CEFR co-authors) was invited to play the role of an independent expert on 10 December 2010 and the consultation took place during the second week of March 2011. Dr North was not employed or paid by UKBA and terms of employment did not apply.

Immigrants: English Language

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence she has received from Secure English Language Test providers on their adherence to the Common European Framework.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has recently conducted an exercise to revise its list of approved test providers. Organisations bidding to be included in the revised list were required to provide evidence to demonstrate how their testing arrangements mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference. This evidence was assessed by the UK Border Agency, together with an independent expert. The list of successful providers will be announced shortly.
	A variety of evidence sources have been received as part of the recent exercise to replace the existing list of test providers. It is not possible to list all of the information received and some of the information is commercially sensitive.

National Public Order Intelligence Unit: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the level of funding of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit since October 2010;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place to scrutinise the accounts of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit;
	(3)  how much funding the National Public Order Intelligence Unit received from  (a) police forces and  (b) her Department in each year since 1999.

Nick Herbert: The Government assessed funding for all elements of policing as a part of the comprehensive spending review in 2010. Figures provided by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) to the Home Office on previous funding are set out in the following table. The accounts of NPOIU are subject to the receiving authority's audit processes, Government audit and the National Audit Office.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Police forces  Home Office CT Grant  Total budget 
			 1999-2000 - - - 
			 2000-01 - - - 
			 2001-02 - - - 
			 2002-03 - - - 
			 2003-04 2,500,000 - 2,500,000 
			 2004-05 2,500,000 - 2,500,000 
			 2005-06 2,500,000 - 2,500,000 
			 2006-07 2,537,945 - 2,537,945 
			 2007-08 2,593,658 1,686,000 4,279,658 
			 2008-09 2,718,000 3,228,500 5,946,500 
			 2009-10 2,721,119 2,981,700 5,702,819 
			 2010-11 2,803,120 2,081,700 4,884,820

Passports: Biometrics

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guidance she provides to police forces on the length of time data obtained through the use of facial recognition technology should be held before being destroyed;
	(2)  Home Department what guidance her Department issues to police forces on the use of facial recognition technology during incidents of civil unrest;
	(3)  how much her Department has spent on facial recognition technology for police forces in each of the last five years;
	(4)  whether the Metropolitan police used facial recognition technology during the civil unrest in London on 26 March 2011.

Nick Herbert: The acquisition and deployment of equipment or technology is an operational matter for individual police forces. The Home Office has neither provided specific funding to forces for facial recognition technology nor issued guidance to forces on the use of facial recognition technology in civil unrest incidents, nor on data retention periods.

Police: Accountability

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish proposals for the administration of the election of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.

Nick Herbert: These will be set out in secondary legislation. The Government are working closely with the Electoral Commission, representatives of local government and others to draw up these regulations. Subject to the will of Parliament, they will be issued following Royal Assent to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Police: Accountability

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of electing a police and crime commissioner for the  (a) South Wales,  (b) Gwent,  (c) Dyfed Powys and  (d) North Wales police authority.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 4 April 2011
	As stated in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill's impact assessment, elections for Police and Crime Commissioners England and Wales will cost £50 million in 2012. These estimates are based on the costs of other national elections, and costings are therefore not available for each force area. This sum is being made available separately; it will not come from force budgets.

Police: Accountability

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to bring forward proposals to regulate the funding of election campaigns for police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Yes. These will be set out in secondary legislation. The Government are working closely with the Electoral Commission, representatives of local government and others to draw up these regulations. Subject to the will of Parliament, they will be issued following Royal Assent to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Police: Accountability

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to  (a) launch and  (b) fund public information campaigns in (i) England and (ii) Wales on the proposed supplementary voting system to be used where an election of a police and crime commissioner has three or more candidates.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 4 April 2011
	The Police Reform and Social Responsibility gives the Electoral Commission a statutory duty to raise awareness of these elections, and how to vote in them, as it currently does for all UK elections.

Police: Demonstrations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of work undertaken by HM inspectorate of constabulary on the policing of protests; and whether she has assessed the effectiveness of the scrutiny of police actions conducted by that body.

Nick Herbert: The reports published by HM inspectors of constabulary (HMIC) on the policing of protest, which evolved after the policing of the G20 protests in 2009, recognised that the police service successfully manage thousands of peaceful demonstrations every year, but also identified areas where lessons could be learned. The Government support HMIC's reviews which include recommendations on improving communication with demonstrators, police officers wearing ID at all times during demonstrations and updated guidance and training particularly around containment and use of force. In February 2011, HMIC published a follow-up report which set out the good progress against its earlier recommendations and areas for further development.

Police: Finance

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss funding for police services.

Nick Herbert: The Secretary of State for the Home Department meets regularly with ministerial colleagues, including the Deputy Prime Minister, and others, in order to discuss matters of policy.

Police: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of  (a) the (i) pay, (ii) expenses and (iii) contributions made to environmental protest groups by Mark Kennedy and  (b) the (i) pay and (ii) expenses of police officers assigned to protect him; and what arrangements were made to account for such costs.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information. The deployment of undercover resources is an operational matter for the police.

Police: Pensions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to the implications for police pensions of the recent report of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in his Budget statement on 23 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 951-66, the Government accepts Lord Hutton's recommendations as a basis for consultation. The Government recognises that the position of the uniformed services, including the police, will require particularly careful consideration. The Government will set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both the public sector workforce and the taxpayer. Any changes to police pensions would be subject to the usual consultation processes with the Police Negotiating Board.

Police: Recruitment

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she issues to police forces on the time period for which the assessment results of potential police recruits are valid during a period when police recruitment is suspended.

Nick Herbert: Police forces should aim to appoint candidates who have been successful at the assessment centre within 12 months of attendance. In some circumstances, this can be extended for a further 12 months.

Police: Surveillance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  to what extent the findings of the review of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity is authorised in law will be made public; and whether a report with recommendations will be published;
	(2)  whether those conducting the review of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity is authorised in law have had any direct involvement in the deployment of undercover police officers within protest groups under the auspices of  (a) the Association of Chief Police Officers,  (b) the National Public Order Intelligence Unit,  (c) each police force which provided the undercover officers whose authorities are under investigation and  (d) any other police force or police organisation;
	(3)  what the terms of reference are of the review by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity authorised in law will  (a) include and  (b) exclude; and when the full terms of reference will be announced;
	(4)  whether the terms of reference of the review of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) and how intelligence activity is authorised in law will consider  (a) undercover officers acting as agent provocateurs,  (b) undercover officers engaging in sexual misconduct,  (c) potential breaches of international and European rules on policing,  (d) the relationship between the NPOIU and the corporate sector and  (e) the role of UK undercover police officers abroad;
	(5)  to whom the review of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity is authorised in law will report; and if she will make a statement to the House at the conclusion of the review.

Nick Herbert: Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) will publish a report of their findings following the review. Any findings which could include operational detail leading to the identification of an undercover officer or to the compromise of covert operations or tactics will be reported separately in a confidential report.
	I understand from HMIC that the HMIC review team do not have any team members that have had direct involvement in the deployment of undercover officers by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. Some members of the team do have experience in the deployment of undercover officers and covert policing. This knowledge is essential in order to fully examine the operational accountability of undercover work and covert policing.
	HMIC has included independent oversight into their review in the form of an external reference group comprising representatives from the judiciary, Parliament, academia, the London Assembly, the Home Office, and Liberty. Full details of the membership of this group have already been announced on the HMIC website.
	The full terms of reference for the review are to review how intelligence that supports the policing of protest involving criminal activity is prioritised, gathered, assessed and managed by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit by considering:
	1. the existing remit of these units and whether they are appropriate for the future;
	2. the effectiveness of operational oversight and governance arrangements for these units;
	3. the adequacy and resilience of structures, funding, staffing and resourcing of these units and the future requirements;
	4. how intelligence activity associated with these units is authorised in accordance with the law including (a) consideration of how the 'proportionality' of covert tactics is determined, in particular the use of undercover officers for collecting intelligence; (b) the process by which covert methods to collect intelligence are tasked and co-ordinated; (c) the process by which covert intelligence is translated into operational activity and, where appropriate, tested through a judicial process; and (d) the training, experience and accreditation of all staff involved in the process;
	5. how covert intelligence gathering associated with these units is managed, including the use of undercover police officers;
	6. whether existing legislation, and the guidance provided by ACPO, is sufficient to maintain public confidence in managing intelligence about protest activity.
	HMIC will be considering within the terms of reference, how covert intelligence gathering associated with these units is managed, including the use of undercover police officers. This will include undercover officers both in this country and when working abroad.
	HMIC inspect policing in the public interest and will publish a report with recommendations at the conclusion of the review.

Police: Working Hours

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the budget of police authorities in England and Wales was allocated to remuneration for shift work in antisocial hours in 2010-11.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 17 March 2011
	This information is not held centrally.
	The Government allocates funding to police authorities as a whole and does not stipulate how these resources should be used. The chief constable and the police authority are better placed to judge local need and prioritise resources accordingly. It is only right that decisions about the use of resources are made locally.

Public Order Offences: Prosecutions

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) charged and  (b) prosecuted under section 1 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in relation to public protests.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 1(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 provides that a person must not pursue a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another, and which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of the other. Section 1(1A) states that a person must not pursue a course of conduct involving the 'harassment of two or more persons, which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment, and which' is intended to persuade them (or somebody else) not to do something that they are entitled or required to do or to do something that they are not under any obligation to do.
	A defendant who pursues a course of conduct in breach of section 1(1) or section 1(1 A) is guilty of an offence under section 2 of the Act.
	The Ministry of Justice court proceedings database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Other than where specified in a statute, statistical information available centrally does not include the circumstances of each case. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those proceedings under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which specifically occurred in relation to public protests.
	Charging data are not available centrally.

Quilliam Foundation: Finance

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans she has for future funding of the Quilliam Foundation by her Department; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to prevent the closure of the Quilliam Foundation.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 10 March 2011
	Quilliam has received six-figure funding from the Government for this financial year. Quilliam is welcome to submit a bid for project funding for the next financial year.
	This Government will only fund organisations for work that contributes to the delivery of its public policy objectives. As with other areas of public spending, this funding is subject to value for money and effectiveness assessments.

Work Permits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many out-of-country applications for intra-company transfer work permits her Department approved in each year since 2007.

Damian Green: holding answer 31 March 2011
	Tier 2 of the points based system was launched on 27 November 2008. Prior to this date, the entry route for intra company transfers was the work permit arrangements.
	
		
			  Work permit intra company transfer out of country applications approved in 2007 and 2008. 
			   Applications approved 
			 2007 38,000 
			 2008 35,700 
			 The 2007 and 2008 figures are rounded, are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or leave to enter. 
		
	
	
		
			  Intra company transfer visas issued under tier 2 of the points based system from December 2008 to December 2010 
			   Visas issued 
			 2008 (from December) 47 
			 2009 22,029 
			 2010 29,176 
			 The 2009 and 2010 figures are not rounded, are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health organisations invited to subscribe to his proposed public health responsibility deal on alcohol in England have not yet done so; what assessment he has made of the reasons why each has not subscribed to the agreement; what assessment he has made of the implications of his assessment for future such agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley) launched the Public Health Responsibility Deal on 15 March and to date 182 organisations have signed up to it.
	The only organisations who declined to do so because of stated concerns with the alcohol pledges were Alcohol Concern, The British Liver Trust, the Institute of Alcohol Studies and the British Medical Association.
	Three others said they hoped to be able to sign up in future. They were Diabetes UK, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Heart Foundation.
	The Responsibility Deal is a voluntary agreement and it is up to each organisation to decide for itself whether to sign up.
	It is essential that we find new ways to work in partnership with industry and other external organisations to tackle the major public health challenges we face. The Responsibility Deal is one part of our strategy for tackling alcohol misuse and improving public health as set out in the White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People" published in November 2010. We will publish an alcohol strategy later this year.

Bone Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on the time taken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conclude its final appraisal determination announcement for the Mepact treatment for osteosarcoma; and when he expects NICE to announce the outcome of the appraisal.

Simon Burns: As a stakeholder in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal on the use of Mepact (mifamurtide) for the treatment of osteosarcoma, the Department is routinely kept up-to-date on progress as part of the appraisal process.
	NICE has not yet confirmed when it expects to issue final guidance to the national health service.

Care Homes

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of deaths in care homes were attributable to  (a) MRSA,  (b) clostridium difficile infections,  (c) malnutrition and  (d) dehydration in each of the last 13 years;
	(2)  how many  (a) cases of and  (b) deaths where the death certificate referred to healthcare acquired infections there were in care homes for each type of (i) infection and (ii) care home in each of the last 13 years.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated April 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, Questions asking:
	1. How many and what proportion of deaths in care homes were attributable to (a) MRSA, (b) Clostridium difficile infections, (c) malnutrition and (d) dehydration in each of the last 13 years. (49797)
	2. How many (a) cases of and (b) deaths where the death certificate refers to healthcare acquired infections there were in care homes for each type of (i) infection and (ii) care home in each of the last 13 years. (49828)
	Tables 1 to 4 provide the number and percentage of deaths in care homes where (a) Meticillin-resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) (Table 1), (b) "Clostridium difficile" (C. difficile) (Table 2), (c) Malnutrition or effects of hunger (Table 3), and (d) Dehydration (volume depletion or lack of water) or effects of thirst (Table 4) were (i) the underlying cause of death and (ii) mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor, in England and Wales, for 1997 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	There is no official definition of a Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI). Tables 5 and 6 provide the number of deaths where (a) Meticillin-resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) (Table 5) and (b) "Clostridium difficile" (C. difficile) (Table 6), two specific types of HCAIs, were (i) the underlying cause of death and (ii) mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor, for local authority care homes and non-local authority care homes in England and Wales, for 1997 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	Copies of the tables will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Death certificates record the place where a person died, but not where any infections may have been acquired. It is not possible from the information on a death certificate to know whether an infection was acquired in the care home where a person died. People are often transferred between hospitals, care homes and other establishments, and may acquire infections in a different place from where they died.
	The number of cases of healthcare associated infections in care homes is not available. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) publish regular reports about anti-microbial surveillance, HCAIs and their consequences for human health in the UK. These are available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/AntimicrobialAndHealthcareAssociatedInfections/
	Those who die with the conditions specified above are usually already very ill, and it is often their existing illness which is designated as the underlying cause of death. For example, someone with malnutrition or effects of hunger mentioned on their death certificate may have cancer of the digestive tract, which means they cannot eat properly or cannot absorb nutrients; they may have suffered from a stroke or have advanced dementia which can cause difficulties chewing and swallowing; or they may abuse alcohol and so not eat properly. Therefore two sets of figures have been provided: the first showing deaths where one of these conditions was the underlying cause of death, and the second where the condition was either the underlying cause or a contributory factor.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15096
	In addition, the number of deaths involving MRSA and C. difficile in England and Wales by sex and age are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	MRSA:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13571
	C. difficile:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14782

Clostridium

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of clostridium difficile infection was among patients in each NHS organisation in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: "Clostridium difficile" infection (CDI) rates for the year 2009-10, the latest full year for which data are published, are shown in tables which have been placed in the Library. Rates are provided at both national health service acute trust and primary care organisation (PCO) level. The tables provide relevant trust apportioned rates (per 10,000 bed days) for all 167 NHS acute trusts and relevant total rates (per 100,000 population) for all 152 PCOs.
	There have been significant reductions in CDIs in the first 10 months of 2010-11. The impact that this has had in lowering rates further within the majority of organisations in comparison to 2009-10 will be available for review when the full year's data for 2010-11 are available in May this year.
	 Notes:
	1. The trust level rates provided are based upon trust apportioned CDI cases only (i.e. all those cases detected four or more days following admission to the acute Trust) rather than all cases. We are thus able to suggest that included cases were acquired during that particular admission.
	2. PCO data are however based upon all cases and thus does not identify where the case was acquired.

Clostridium

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what objectives on clostridium difficile have been set for each NHS organisation.

Simon Burns: The "Clostridium difficile" Objectives 2011-12 aim to reduce the variation in infection rates that currently exists in the national health service, bringing the performance of everyone up to the level of the best. Tables of the Objectives set for each NHS organisation for reductions in "Clostridium difficile" infection in 2011-12 have been placed in the Library and will also shortly be made available on the Health Protection Agency website.
	When reviewing these tables, it should be noted that the number of infections, both in terms of the baseline number and 2011-12 Objectives set for primary care trusts, incorporate all "Clostridium difficile" infections within the population for which they are responsible, including those infections that have been separately apportioned to the acute trusts within their area.

DH Mail

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the use of DH Mail e-mail addresses on his Department's website was withdrawn and replaced by a new contact page system.

Simon Burns: The generic departmental e-mail address ('DHMail') has been used for several years as a point of contact for the public. However, as the e-mail address has been picked up by marketing lists and publicised on the internet, the levels of spam and inappropriate correspondence we received reached such a significant volume that an alternative was required. The Department therefore followed the example of other Government Departments by setting up a 'contact us' web form.

Diabetes: Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the adequacy of provision of  (a) NHS diabetes specialists and  (b) diabetes care and diagnosis facilities.

Paul Burstow: The diagnosis of diabetes and the care patients receive is provided in a number of settings; general practitioner (GP) practices, community and hospital based facilities. We recognise that diabetes specialist teams in all these care settings play a valuable role in supporting people with diabetes to manage their condition.
	Workforce planning is a matter for local determination as local national health service organisations are best placed to assess the healthcare needs of their local population.
	Following the NHS reforms, GPs will be responsible for commissioning diabetes services. Their understanding of patients' needs and wishes, along with their clinical knowledge, should ensure that their patients receive the most appropriate and timely care.

Diabetes: Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to improve diabetes diagnosis following the publication of the NHS Diabetes report, Coding, Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes.

Paul Burstow: We recognise that diagnosing diabetes can be complex. We welcome the new guidelines published by NHS Diabetes and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) which are aimed at helping general practitioners (GPs) accurately diagnose diabetes for all patients. The RCGP has a suite of e-learning modules in relation to diabetes ranging from diagnosis to emergency care and newer therapies.
	The new audit tools which have also been developed will help GPs to share information and look at similar cases to help to resolve even the most difficult of cases. The RCGP is also following up the recommendations of the report on out of hours training for GPs and looking at ways to expand this training, which would provide opportunities to raise awareness of acute presentations of the complications of diabetes.

Doctors: Manpower

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to increase the number of doctors employed by the NHS.

Simon Burns: There are currently no proposals to increase the number of doctors employed by the national health service. Local NHS organisations are best placed to train and employ the staff needed to meet the needs of their local populations.

Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has any plans to amend the NHS Constitution to include a right of patients to have access to drugs and therapies recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The NHS Constitution already provides the right for patients to receive drugs and treatments which have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and which their doctors recommend for them.
	Currently, this right is underpinned by a statutory funding direction that requires national health service organisations to fund healthcare interventions recommended by NICE within three months of publication of final technology appraisal guidance. In future, and subject to the successful passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, we intend to replicate the effect of this funding direction.

Facial Disfigurement

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) the UK, (b) England,  (c) the North East,  (d) Teesside and  (e) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency (i) were born with and (ii) acquired as a result of an accident a severe facial disfigurement.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.

General Practitioners

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in introducing GP commissioning consortia in  (a) Poole constituency and  (b) England.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 will provide for general practitioner (GP) consortia to be established from April 2012, prior to taking on full statutory responsibilities from April 2013. The Department has established a rolling programme of GP consortia pathfinders to test the different elements involved in GP-led commissioning and enable emerging GP consortia to get more rapidly involved in current commissioning decisions.
	Groups of GP practices keen to participate in the pathfinder programme put themselves forward to their strategic health authority. The Bournemouth and Poole GP consortium has been awarded pathfinder status. In England, there are 220 pathfinders in total.

General Practitioners

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to enable all willing providers to bid for contracts with  (a) the NHS Commissioning Board and  (b) GP consortia.

Simon Burns: The Government's policy is that national health service services should be commissioned from the best providers able to meet patients' needs and deliver value for taxpayers' money. Guidance on the procurement of health services in the NHS has been published since May 2008. This guidance has consistently made clear that procurement processes, including any evaluation of bids for contracts, must be transparent, proportionate and non-discriminatory with equality of treatment for all providers.
	We have also consulted on plans to extend patient choice so that patients have greater choice and control over their treatment and care, including choice of provider wherever possible. A key principle of our proposed approach is that 'any qualified provider' should be able to offer services where the provider meets quality standards and accepts the NHS standard contract tariff. Prices would be fixed in advance with money following patients' choices and competition on quality. We will publish our response to the consultation shortly.

General Practitioners

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what transparency requirements he plans to establish in respect of the awarding of contracts under GP commissioning arrangements.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes clear statutory duties on commissioners in relation to procurement and in relation to anti-competitive behaviours. A clear set of underpinning rules and guidance will be developed to apply to general practitioner (GP) consortia, so that they have the necessary support to make decisions that are fair and transparent and avoid any perceived conflicts of interest. In addition, the Bill also includes a requirement that each consortium's constitution sets out arrangements for decision-making and managing potential conflicts of interest. The economic regulator will also have powers to intervene if there are concerns that a consortium has not met its duties in relation to fairness and choice or has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.

General Practitioners

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of operating  (a) primary care trusts in the last 12 months for which figures are available and  (b) proposed GP consortia in the first 12 months of their operation.

Simon Burns: The latest data from 2009-10 audited accounts show that total net operating costs for primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2009-10 was £85.8 billion. Figures for each PCT are shown in the following table.
	The detailed financial regime for the new health system is still being developed. No estimate has been made of the expected operating costs in the proposed general practitioner (GP) consortia in their first 12 months.
	A direct comparison between the operating costs of PCTs and the future operating costs of GP consortia is invalid as PCTs' functions will not all transfer across to the new GP consortia. Some functions will pass to the NHS Commissioning Board, local authorities and other bodies.
	
		
			  PCT net operating costs 2009-10 
			  Name  Net operating costs (£000) 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 548,452 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 342,413 
			 Barnet PCT 584,529 
			 Barnsley PCT 434,898 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 180,536 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 289,877 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 588,957 
			 Berkshire East PCT 553,035 
			 Berkshire West PCT 620,316 
			 Bexley NHS Care Trust PCT 323,859 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 716,665 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 282,191 
			 Blackpool PCT 287,672 
			 Bolton PCT 457,110 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 547,225 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 886,547 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 506,092 
			 Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 460,699 
			 Bristol PCT 719,867 
			 Bromley PCT 480,328 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 694,456 
			 Bury PCT 314,472 
			 Calderdale PCT 329,499 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 817,316 
			 Camden PCT 519,654 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 689,984 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 739,043 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 503,541 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 858,510 
			 County Durham PCT 956,146 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 552,898 
			 Croydon PCT 557,119 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 831,533 
			 Darlington PCT 174,873 
			 Derby City PCT 445,868 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 1,103,298 
			 Devon PCT 1,169,805 
			 Doncaster PCT 544,715 
			 Dorset PCT 621,051 
			 Dudley PCT 496,333 
			 Ealing PCT 593,933 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 797,842 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 667,403 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 457,065 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 537,799 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 1,212,687 
			 Enfield PCT 471,559 
			 Gateshead PCT 377,774 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 868,112 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 377,918 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 449,412 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 582,184 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 347,215 
			 Hampshire PCT 1,821,809 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 477,463 
			 Harrow PCT 331,223 
			 Hartlepool PCT 173,595 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 322,995 
			 Havering PCT 391,928 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 563,662 
			 Herefordshire PCT 276,174 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 393,328 
			 Hillingdon PCT 390,004 
			 Hounslow PCT 393,689 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 487,382 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 245,435 
			 Islington PCT 442,040 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 401,203 
			 Kingston PCT 249,418 
			 Kirklees PCT 646,478 
			 Knowsley PCT 324,230 
			 Lambeth PCT 635,253 
			 Leeds PCT 1,245,915 
			 Leicester City PCT 528,843 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 883,404 
			 Lewisham PCT 509,516 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 1,117,027 
			 Liverpool PCT 990,848 
			 Luton Teaching PCT 302,017 
			 Manchester PCT 1,016,984 
			 Medway PCT 425,074 
			 Mid Essex PCT 497,759 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 281,430 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 341,881 
			 Newcastle PCT 503,064 
			 Newham PCT 538,681 
			 Norfolk PCT 1,132,213 
			 North East Essex PCT 512,191 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus PCT 272,576 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 548,793 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 250,042 
			 North Somerset PCT 317,730 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 334,540 
			 North Tyneside PCT 366,521 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 1,178,878 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 987,809 
			 Northumberland Care PCT 524,639 
			 Nottingham City PCT 544,618 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 1,005,383 
			 Oldham PCT 415,559 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 903,594 
			 Peterborough PCT 286,776 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 423,656 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 350,036 
			 Redbridge PCT 395,526 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 246,993 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 280,859 
			 Rotherham PCT 433,775 
			 Salford PCT 458,730 
			 Sandwell PCT 560,835 
			 Sefton PCT 511,611 
			 Sheffield PCT 939,323 
			 Shropshire County PCT 447,657 
			 Solihull NHS Care Trust PCT 314,103 
			 Somerset PCT 808,558 
			 South Birmingham PCT 625,727 
			 South East Essex PCT 529,130 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 365,920 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 892,270 
			 South Tyneside PCT 294,250 
			 South West Essex PCT 660,316 
			 Southampton City PCT 404,295 
			 Southwark PCT 524,278 
			 Stockport PCT 465,243 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 314,789 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 500,676 
			 Suffolk PCT 867,082 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 534,144 
			 Surrey PCT 1,657,220 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 611,241 
			 Swindon PCT 292,760 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 411,899 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 254,492 
			 Torbay Care PCT 248,924 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 544,453 
			 Trafford PCT 354,025 
			 Wakefield District PCT 601,547 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 455,159 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 411,261 
			 Wandsworth PCT 561,332 
			 Warrington PCT 315,053 
			 Warwickshire PCT 794,214 
			 West Essex PCT 421,605 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 821,931 
			 West Kent PCT 992,328 
			 West Sussex PCT 1,236,479 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 408,186 
			 Westminster PCT 521,132 
			 Wiltshire PCT 639,603 
			 Wirral PCT 597,434 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 438,309 
			 Worcestershire PCT 817,362 
			  Source: PCT Audited Summarisation Schedules 2009-10

Health Research Regulatory Agency

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what timetable he has set for the commencement of operations at the Health Research Regulatory Agency;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to approve clinical trials.

Simon Burns: A range of measures to streamline health research regulation and improve the cost-effectiveness of clinical trials are outlined in 'The Plan for Growth'.
	The Government will create a health research regulatory agency to combine and streamline the approvals for health research which are at present scattered across many organisations. This will improve the timeliness of decisions about clinical trials. The agency will be established in the first instance as a special health authority, with the National Research Ethics Service as its core, during 2011.
	The new agency will work closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to create a unified approval process and promote proportionate standards for compliance and inspection within a consistent national system of research governance.
	From autumn 2011, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funding will become conditional on organisations playing their part in the national research governance system. The Government will launch a framework of standard procedures and good practice for local health research management-the NIHR Research Support Services framework-by May 2011. Recipients of NIHR funding will regularly publish metrics on their performance in initiating and delivering health research. When deciding on funding, the NIHR will take account of performance against public NIHR benchmarks, including an initial benchmark of 70 days from receipt of a valid research protocol to recruitment of the first participant in a study.

Hospitals: Blood

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospitals in  (a) England and  (b) Bedfordshire have (i) 24-hour and (ii) seven-day cover for gastrointestinal bleeding;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on hospitals which have  (a) 24-hour and  (b) seven-day cover in respect of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Local national health service organisations are best placed to determine the work force and services required to deliver safe patient care.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he plans to make to provide for adequate low-volume services for  (a) inflammatory bowel disease and  (b) other chronic conditions.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill currently being considered by Parliament has proposed devolving responsibility for commissioning some national health service health care services to general practitioner (GP) consortia and establishing an independent and accountable NHS Commissioning Board, which will support GP commissioning and hold GP consortia to account.
	GP consortia will commission a range of services that best meet local needs including inflammatory bowel disease where necessary. The NHS Commissioning Board will produce commissioning guidelines, and seek Quality Standards from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to ensure patients receive high quality services. The NHS Commissioning Board will commission those specialist services currently commissioned both nationally and regionally based on the services described in the Specialised Services National Definitions Set, which will include some low volume services.

Medical Technology

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to encourage the innovative use of medical technologies in the NHS.

Simon Burns: The Department is very aware of the role innovative medical technology can play in the delivery of the reforms to the national health service. This is why the Department is keen for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to continue its role in assessing medical technologies through the recently established Evaluation Pathway programme. This designed to provide guidance to the NHS and to help it adopt efficient and cost-effective medical devices and diagnostics more rapidly and consistently.
	The Department is also committed to continuing the NHS Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board, which was set up to look at ways in which the relationship between the life sciences industries and the NHS can be improved and support the rapid adoption of innovative technologies. Furthermore, the Department is keen to build on the Innovative Technology Adoption Procurement Programme-known as iTAPP-which is seeking to speed up the adoption of a number of key medical technologies into the NHS through the National Technology Adoption Centre.

Medical Treatments

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of NHS patients were voluntarily in receipt of medication at home at the point immediately before such provision was made compulsory in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many departments of NHS hospitals require patients to receive medication via a home delivery service.

Paul Burstow: Information on the number of patients in receipt of medicine through the medicine homecare delivery service or the number of national health service hospital departments which operate such services is not held centrally. Contracts are awarded by individual NHS trusts for such services to specialist contractors and some medicine manufacturers operate their own schemes for homecare delivery, most commonly in such therapy areas as HIV, renal, rheumatology, haematology, immunology, oncology and metabolic disorders.

Midwives

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the age profile was of NHS midwives in each year from 2002 to 2008.

Anne Milton: The age profile of midwives employed in the national health service in England between 2002 to 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			  Headcount 
			   Under 25  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65 and over  Unknown 
			 2002 571 1,467 2,542 4,811 4,705 3,372 2,380 1,495 348 13 1,545 
			 2003 682 1,586 2,405 4,524 4,990 3,584 2,466 1,592 404 25 1,683 
			 2004 671 1,707 2,279 4,255 5,224 3,943 2,594 1,738 473 46 1,914 
			 2005 648 1,949 2,238 3,798, 5,224 4,225 2,752 1,716 532 63 1,663 
			 2006 559 2,034 2,281 3,339 5,167 4,386 2,920 1,779 591 57 1,356 
			 2007 549 2,102 2,366 3,142 5,098 4,623 3,139 1,750 689 70 1,565 
			 2008 640 2,187 2,401 2,968 4,787 4,757 3,313 1,798 717 91 2,005 
			  Source: Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census

National Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure: Research

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the progress of the National Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure in removing barriers to research and innovation within the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The purpose of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI) is to maximise the contribution of the NIHR-funded clinical research infrastructure: for health research and patient benefit; and for the nation's international competitiveness as a location for applied clinical research.
	NOCRI is discharging this function by facilitating cross-NIHR funded facility co-operation on scientific, technical and process challenges, supporting spread of bureaucracy-busting measures led by other areas of NIHR and leading on the development of model agreements, e.g. the recently published NIHR/Medical Research Council model Industrial Collaborative Research Agreement to streamline contracting for research partnerships between industry, universities and the national health service.
	NOCRI is supporting research funders big and small in the life sciences industry and charities by helping them to navigate the research environment to find suitable individuals or organisations to support their research needs.
	NOCRI was established in December 2009 and its Managing Director took up post in May 2010. It would therefore be premature to assess its full impact.

NHS

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the application of state aid in the NHS following the re-establishment of Monitor as an economic regulator.

Simon Burns: We are currently assessing whether and to what extent European Union state aid law will have an impact in the national health service, including what the position will be with respect to a health system that will remain funded by the taxpayer and providing universal coverage, free at the point of need.

NHS

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide financial assistance to non-designated NHS organisations and services which do not qualify under EU state aid rules and competition rules.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill will ensure that essential services are protected as well as setting out a credible regime for managing failure. Patient care and quality of service is our priority and it will be important to take account of the particular circumstances of a provider or service at a given time. Monitor and the NHS Commissioning Board will play important roles in ensuring a coherent approach across the system and determining when particular providers warrant support or not.

NHS Walk-in Centres

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS walk-in centres there were  (a) in May 2010 and  (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; what information his Department holds on the number of centres that have (i) reduced and (ii) maintained their opening hours during that period; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: National health service walk-in centres are the responsibility of the local NHS. It is currently for primary care trusts to decide whether the services provided by walk-in centres continue to meet the needs of patients. Figures are not collected centrally on numbers of centres, nor data on their opening hours.

NHS: Competition

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received on the effect of the implementation of the any willing provider model on the application of EU competition rules to NHS services.

Simon Burns: The principle that 'any qualified provider' (previously any willing provider) should be able to offer national health service services subject to patient choice-where the provider meets quality standards and accepts the NHS standard contract and tariff-would not affect the application of competition law. This policy is consistent with the principles of competition law, however, because it seeks to ensure commissioning processes are transparent, non-discriminatory and to avoid restricting choice or competition against patients' interests.

NHS: Expenditure

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of real-terms expenditure on the NHS which will be accounted for by restructuring requirements over the comprehensive spending review period.

Simon Burns: The estimated real-terms expenditure on the national health service, totalled across the four years of the comprehensive spending review period from 2011-12 to 2014-15, is £411 billion. The estimated cost of the Government's plans for modernising the NHS is £1.4 billion, to be incurred in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This represents 0.34% of the total. The changes are estimated to achieve administrative savings of £5.2 billion (or £3.8 billion after netting off the cost) over the comprehensive spending review period, followed by savings of £1.7 billion every year from 2014-15.

NHS: Manpower

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) individuals and  (b) full-time equivalents were employed in the NHS in 2010.

Simon Burns: The total number of people employed in the NHS hospital and community health service including general practitioners and general practice staff as at 30 September 2010 was 1,431,557 headcount and 1,186,571 full-time equivalent. The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers.

NHS: Procurement

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure an equitable distribution of NHS contracts of greatest monetary value between the private and the public sector.

Simon Burns: The Government have no plans to intervene to affect the distribution of national health service contracts between the private and public sector.

NHS: Procurement

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he plans to issue to NHS trusts on the relative assessment of the merits of price and quality when determining the award of contracts under competitive tenders.

Simon Burns: In future, as now, it will be for commissioners to set the evaluation criteria for the award of competitive tenders in accordance with procurement law. Under the Health and Social Care Bill, commissioners would undertake this procurement in line with regulations that the Secretary of State may issue concerning good practice in procurement. At present, commissioners are expected to follow guidance set out in The Procurement Guide for Commissioners of NHS Funded Services.

NHS: Reorganisation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage greater co-operation between primary and secondary health care professionals as part of his proposals for NHS reform.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill places a duty on consortia to make arrangements to obtain advice from people with professional expertise. Effective general practitioner (GP) commissioning will require the full range of clinical and professional input alongside that of local people. Primary and secondary healthcare professionals and others, all have a vital role to play and a real opportunity to develop services and improve the health outcomes of their local populations.
	Emerging consortia are already recognising the need to involve secondary care professionals. They understand the need for expert clinical advice to understand the intricacies and interdependences between different hospital services.
	At its heart, a GP consortia is about a nexus of professional interrelationships, the exercise of peer influence, and professionals taking on direct responsibility and public accountability for the decisions they collectively make.

NHS: Standards

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in the number of NHS targets on the quality of service to patients.

Simon Burns: We have removed some process targets to give the national health service more freedom to improve outcomes for patients-to measure the results, not just the timescales.
	Our reforms will ensure that patients are at the heart of decisions made in the NHS and that the NHS will continue to drive up quality and maintain standards for patients.

Personnel: Pay

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary cost to his Department in respect of  (a) staff salaries and  (b) other costs of Monitor has been in each year since its inception; and what estimate he has made of the likely costs in each such case in each of the next five years.

Simon Burns: A breakdown of funding provided to Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) in respect of staff salaries and other costs since its inception in 2004 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Data provided by Monitor 
			  £000 
			  As at 31 March:  Staff salaries  Other costs 
			 2004 49 3,365 
			 2005 1,380 13,570 
			 2006 2,373 13,792 
			 2007 3,741 9,692 
			 2008 4,482 8,426 
			 2009 5,761 8,762 
			 2010 6,346 9,307 
		
	
	The Impact Assessment published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill estimates the annual running costs of Monitor at £72 million by 2015-16. At this stage, we do not hold information centrally on estimated annual running costs for Monitor, or an estimated breakdown of expenditure, for each of the next five years.

Prescription Drugs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence follows in instances when the final decision on a drug appraisal process is delayed on more than one occasion.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an independent body. NICE's technology appraisal process guide is available at:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/42D/B3/STAGuideLrFinal.pdf

Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanism his Department proposes to measure progress on the Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention agenda; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) agenda will support the national health service to make and reinvest up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014-15. Local NHS organisations have identified opportunities to do this as part of the single integrated business planning process set out in 'The NHS Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12'.
	In 2011-12, the Department will measure progress on QIPP through this single integrated process.

Respite Care: Disability

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve respite services for families of children with disabilities.

Sarah Teather: I have been asked to reply.
	This Government have committed more than £800 million in funding over the next four years to local authorities to support the delivery of short breaks. That funding is part of the new Early Intervention Grant.
	In order to maintain and protect the delivery of short breaks, I recently laid regulations to ensure that from 1 April 2011 all local authorities are under a duty to provide a range of short breaks services for disabled children and their families. From 1 October 2011 local authorities will be required to publish for parents in their area a 'service statement' which will explain exactly what short breaks are available and how they can be accessed.
	My Department recently published a Green Paper, 'Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability'. The Green Paper proposes a number of ways to improve access to services for children with additional needs. The consultation period ends on 30 June 2011. More information is available at:
	www.education.gov.uk/consultations

Roaccutane

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the risks associated with isotretinoin and its prescription for teenagers and young adults.

Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency continuously monitors the safety of all medicines on the market.
	Isotretinoin is subject to annual European safety assessments which review all safety data including adverse reactions suspected to be associated with isotretinoin. These assessments include the detailed assessment of adverse reactions in patients aged between 12 and 18. The latest review was completed on 28 March 2011 and concluded that the overall balance of benefits and risks remains positive.

Science: Health

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  who will be responsible for advancing his Department's evidence-based cost-benefit risk analysis to inform the appropriate model of regulation for the healthcare science workforce; what timetable has been set for the recommendations of the analysis to be made public; and which stakeholders will be invited to contribute to the analysis;
	(2)  what methodology his Department plans to use to ensure that the diversity of the disciplines covered by the healthcare science workforce is taken into account in its analysis of the regulation of that workforce.

Anne Milton: In line with the overall Government approach to the extension of professional regulation, as set out in the Command Paper "Enabling Excellence", the extension of statutory regulation to currently unregulated professional or occupational groups, such as some groups in the healthcare science workforce, will only be considered where there is a compelling case on the basis of a public safety risk and where assured voluntary registers are not considered sufficient to manage this risk.
	We have therefore asked officials to begin discussions with the Health Professions Council and the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence about the timetable for creating an assured voluntary regime and any interim arrangements that may be required.

Social Services: Finance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that funding it has provided to the NHS for adult social care is used for that purpose.

Paul Burstow: The Government have announced various funding streams, including as part of the 2010 spending review, which have been allocated to the national health service in order to support social care and improve joint working between the two systems.
	Details about this funding have been set out in a letter from David Behan and David Flory to NHS and local authority chief executives, which can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_123460
	A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library. The following table summarises the funding which has been allocated for joint working.
	
		
			   £ million  
			  Purpose  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  How the funding should be used 
			 Development of post-discharge support and re-ablement services 70 150 300 To work with local authorities to develop local re-ablement capacity, according to local plans submitted to strategic health authority (SHAs) in December 2010. Funding may be transferred to local partners or pooled budgets. It is for local discretion, the proportion of spend on the NHS and social care. 
			 To support social care services 162 648 622 Funding must be transferred to local authorities, to spend on social care services which also benefit health. Primary care trusts and local authorities should jointly agree how the funding should be spent and the outcomes to be achieved. 
		
	
	As part of the NHS planning process for 2011-12, the Department will seek assurances from SHAs that arrangements are in place for funding to be transferred to local authorities and that plans have been jointly agreed between NHS organisations and their local authority partners for delivery of services in line with the Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12.
	The allocation for the next four years will continue to rise considerably, in recognition of the pressures that local authorities will face and the importance Government places on social care. £1 billion by 2014-15, will be made available for social care through grant funding from the Department. This funding will be allocated on top of the Department's existing social care grants, which will rise in line with inflation. Total grant funding from the Department for social care will reach £2.4 billion by 2014-15.

Social Services: Manpower

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in the number of social workers on  (a) children at risk,  (b) disabled children and  (c) carers.

Tim Loughton: I have been asked to reply.
	Social workers play a key role in protecting and supporting children, including children at risk and disabled children, their families and carers. It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that they employ an appropriate number of social workers with the right skills and experience to provide high quality and timely social care services in their area.
	Data on the number of social work staff employed by local authorities is collected and published annually by the NHS Information Centre in its Personal Social Services Staff of Social Services Departments England return (SSDS001). The latest available data, published on 31 March 2011, provides information on the number of social work staff as at 30 September 2010. This publication shows that, at 30 September 2010, the number of social work staff employed by local authorities had grown steadily over the previous decade. Further information is available on the NHS Information Centre at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/social-care/adult-social-care-information/personal-social-services-staff-of-social-services-departments-england-at-30-september-2010

South London Healthcare NHS Trust: Land

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the potential sale of land owned by South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Simon Burns: The Department has received no representations on the potential sale of land owned by South London Healthcare NHS Trust since January 2011.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust: Restructure

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the potential restructuring of South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Simon Burns: The Department has received no representations on the potential restructuring of South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Strokes: Health Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introduction of the any willing provider model on access to post-stroke physiotherapy services.

Simon Burns: The Government's intention in introducing any qualified provider (AQP) (previously any willing provider) is to increase the choice and control patients have over their care and treatment. The Department is continuing to develop AQP policy, and initial implementation guidance will be published later in the spring.

Surgery

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much and what proportion of the NHS research budget was spent on research into surgical procedures in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Estimated spend by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on directly-funded research relating to surgery in 2009-10 was £7.3 million. This was 1.9% of total directly-funded NIHR research, and 0.9% of total expenditure from the NIHR revenue budget. In addition, the NIHR clinical research network provided national health service research infrastructure support to a wide range of trials and other clinical studies in surgery.

Visual Impairment

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to allow optometrists to refer patients with  (a) cataracts,  (b) diabetic retinopathy,  (c) glaucoma and  (d) wet age related macular degeneration for secondary care.

Simon Burns: Direct referral from optometrists to ophthalmic hospitals is already provided for in the General Ophthalmic Services Contracts Regulations 2008.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Assets Programme

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist community organisations who wish to purchase assets of community value.

Andrew Stunell: We are considering what assistance communities might need in helping to bid to take over their valued assets to support the take-up of the Community Right to Buy provisions in the Localism Bill. We are seeking views on this as part of the current consultation into the details of the scheme.
	This Department already funds the Asset Transfer Unit, led and managed by Locality (formerly the Development Trusts Association). The ATU provides guidance and support to community groups acquiring public assets under powers for local authorities to transfer assets at less than market value. The ATU has supported the completed transfer of seventeen assets to community organisations in the last 12 months.
	In addition, the CommunityBuilders programme is another existing source of help for community organisations who want to improve their sustainability by acquiring assets. This fund has recently been endowed to ensure maximum value for money and flexibility.

Community Assets Programme

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to assist community organisations with the community asset transfer process.

Andrew Stunell: The Government-funded Asset Transfer Unit provides information, advice and expertise for community organisations on the asset transfer process. Their website:
	www.atu.org.uk
	includes access to information and case studies on community asset transfer and the programmes they run on behalf of Government. Guidance and toolkits they have developed to support community asset transfer are also available, such as a legal toolkit to assist community groups and local authorities; guidance on community-led open spaces, exploring transfer of parks and green spaces; transferring heritage assets; community-owned libraries; making buildings work for your community through design and refurbishment; and The Place Station:
	www.theplacestation.org.uk
	an online interface which enables individual citizens and communities to engage with asset owners and entrepreneurs.

Community Development

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide that expressions of interest in the provision of public services under his proposed community right to challenge may not be accepted from groups with extreme political or social agendas; and if he will take steps to assist relevant authorities in identifying and excluding such groups from the bidding process.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Local authorities must comply with all relevant legislation including equalities and human rights legislation when exercising their functions. This will apply to the exercise of functions by a relevant authority that may arise under, or be related to, the proposed community right to challenge, in particular, the procuring and monitoring of services.
	We are currently consulting on proposals for implementing the community right to challenge, including the statutory grounds on which an expression of interest may be rejected by a relevant authority, and whether there are issues on which the department should provide guidance. This is available on our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/righttochallengeconsultation

Community Development: Religion

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legislative and other provisions provide that religious organisations which win contracts to deliver public services under his proposed community right to challenge do not discriminate in the provision of such services.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 4 April 2011
	 Under the Equality Act 2010 any organisation delivering a service-whether following a procurement exercise under the community right to challenge or otherwise-will need to deliver the service in a way which eliminates discrimination, harassment or victimisation of either the service user or potential service user. Delivering to a person a service which is of less quality or delivering it in a manner or on terms not usually provided to the general public would also constitute an offence.
	As public authorities, relevant authorities under the Community Right to Challenge will also need to have regard to this Act and in particular to these considerations in commissioning, procuring and monitoring services-whether this occurs as a result of the right to challenge, or otherwise. They will want to ensure that contracts they enter into for service provision include adequate safeguards to enable them to meet these obligations and others, such as arise under the Human Rights Act.

Construction: Standards

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had on the Accredited Construction Details (ACDs) scheme; and when he expects to approve a scheme for ACDs that meets the conditions set out in Approved Document L1A, paragraph 5.12a.

Andrew Stunell: My officials have been working with industry, and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service on the development of practical authorisation criteria, both technical and management, for such a scheme. Draft scheme requirements are now being reviewed in advance of formally inviting potential scheme operators to come forward, with a view to having accredited schemes in place as soon as possible in support of the 2010 changes to the energy efficiency requirement of the Building Regulations.

Council Tax

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authority in England collected the lowest proportion of council tax in 2009-10 according to records held by his Department.

Bob Neill: According to QRC4 returns submitted to the Department by all billing authorities in England, which show receipts of 2009-10 council tax by 31 March 2010 as a proportion of net collectible debit, Manchester collected the lowest percentage of council tax in 2009-10 at 90.9. This represents a shortfall of £11 million a year of funding in the 2009-10 financial year. Collection rates for all authorities are shown in table 5 of the statistical release 'Collection Rates for Council Tax and Non-domestic Rates in England 2009-10' at the following address:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1620281.pdf

Enterprise Zones: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the establishment of a Greater Peterborough enterprise zone; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: At Budget, the Government invited 11 local enterprise partnerships to come forward with proposals for enterprise zones, and announced that a further 10 would be sought from open competition.
	Greater Peterborough, as part of the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough local enterprise partnership will therefore be able to submit a bid for an enterprise zone as part of that competition.

Fire Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to produce a new Fire and Rescue Services National Framework following the expiry of the Framework for 2008 to 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: An announcement on the National Framework will be made shortly as part of the Government response to the fire and rescue sector led Fire Futures reports, a copy of which will also be made available for the Library of the House. The existing National Framework remains in force until it is replaced.

First Time Buyers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to support home ownership and first-time buyers.

Grant Shapps: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friends, the Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) and the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes), on 4 April. 2011,  Official Report, columns 729-730.

Green Belt

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Financial Statement of 23 March 2011,  Official Report, column 956, what steps he plans to take to ensure protection from development for green spaces.

Greg Clark: We are taking substantial steps to help communities protect green spaces from development. Councils have been given stronger powers to prevent unwanted garden grabbing; national green belt protection will be maintained; regional spatial strategies will be abolished including their top down targets and we will create a new designation to protect green areas of particular importance to local communities.

Homelessness

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of introducing  (a) a two-stage discharge of the homelessness duty into the private rented sector and  (b) an interim tenancy in order to allow local authorities to determine whether accommodation is sustainable.

Grant Shapps: The Localism Bill contains provisions to allow local housing authorities to fully discharge the main homelessness duty with offers of accommodation in the private rented sector without requiring the applicant's agreement. It will provide for an assured shorthold tenancy of a minimum of twelve months, and for protection against repeat homelessness for up to two years (regardless of priority need).
	A two stage or interim tenancy discharge would require an initial assured shorthold tenancy of six to twelve months while the homelessness duty is still owed, before the duty could be ended with a further twelve month tenancy. This would offer no greater protection than the measures in the Localism Bill, would be unnecessarily complex and could, for some, mean a longer wait in expensive temporary accommodation. It would also effectively require private landlords to offer a minimum eighteen month tenancy and responses to the "local decisions: a fairer future for social housing" consultation indicated that this would not be practical.
	Existing safeguards in the homelessness legislation already mean that the local authority must, by law, consider whether the accommodation is affordable in determining whether it is suitable for the applicant and their household's particular needs. This is in addition to considering its size, its condition, its accessibility and also its location.

Homelessness

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department expects local authorities to take to prevent homelessness.

Grant Shapps: Homelessness prevention and housing options services are now standard practice for local authorities. This is in recognition of the cost effectiveness and benefits for households of preventing homelessness whenever possible. Effective prevention measures include support to access private rented housing, family mediation and debt advice. Options offered will depend on local circumstances and priorities. Local action to prevent homelessness among single people plays an important role in preventing rough sleeping.
	We have announced Preventing Homelessness Grant allocations of £81.5 million each year for local authorities in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This is part of our commitment to maintain the level of investment in homelessness grant for local authorities and the voluntary sector, with provision of £400 million in total over the next four years.

Homelessness

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to increase the level of compliance by local authorities with their duty to offer advice and assistance to those who are homeless in respect of single people.

Grant Shapps: If a local housing authority is satisfied that an applicant is eligible, unintentionally homeless but not in priority need, then they have a duty to provide advice and assistance to help them in any attempts to secure accommodation for themselves. This is a statutory duty that local authorities are obliged to comply with. A failure to comply with statutory duties is challengeable through the courts.
	We have maintained the level of investment in homelessness grant, providing £400 million over the next four years. We have established a Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness which brings together eight departments to tackle the complex causes and improve support for single homeless people. We are providing £10 million grant funding to Crisis over three years to improve the support available at local level to help single homeless people access private rented accommodation.

Homelessness

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of requiring local authorities to discharge their homelessness duty through a landlord accreditation scheme when using the private rented sector.

Grant Shapps: Many local authorities already run successful landlord accreditation schemes. These are used in a variety of ways and experience shows that accreditation works best where the local authority has developed the scheme in response to local needs and the local rental market. If landlords with suitable properties decide not to become members of an accreditation scheme, this could reduce a homeless household's chances of finding a good home.
	The Housing Health and Safety Rating System together with extensive enforcement powers for local authorities exist to make sure that any private rented sector property meets an appropriate basic standard.
	Existing safeguards in the homelessness legislation also apply before the homelessness duty can be brought to an end. The authority must be satisfied, by law, that the accommodation is suitable for the applicant and his or her household. This includes considering whether the accommodation is affordable for the applicant, its size, its condition, its accessibility and also its location.

Homelessness

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist homeless people.

Grant Shapps: We have established a Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness bringing together eight Government Departments to address the complex causes of homelessness and improve support for homeless people. A new approach to evaluating rough sleeping levels has been introduced so that there is clear information in all areas, to inform service provision and action to address the problem.
	Despite the record deficit we inherited, we are maintaining investment in homelessness grant, with £400 million over the next four years. This will be made available to local authorities and the voluntary sector to support their work to tackle homelessness. This includes funding for Crisis to help support single homeless people access settled housing in the private rented sector. We have made an additional £190 million available for discretionary housing payments and other forms of practical support alongside the Government's package of welfare reform measures.
	I also refer the hon. Member to my letter of 20 October 2010 on the spending review's settlement for housing, which includes our plans to build more affordable homes and renovate poor quality social housing. A copy of the letter is available in the Library of the House.

Housing: Construction

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he is providing to local authorities on ensuring an adequate supply of housing.

Bob Neill: Local planning authorities, working with their local communities, are best placed to understand how much housing is needed and to decide the most sustainable locations for growth. Planning policy statement 3: Housing and the Government's Strategic Housing Market Area Assessment guidance and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment guidance can help local authorities to assess the need for housing and identify land for housing development.
	Furthermore, we announced in the Plan for Growth that we will produce a shorter, more focused and inherently pro-growth national planning policy framework to deliver more development in suitable and viable locations. This will include planning for new housing. The framework will be published for consultation in the summer.

Housing: Construction

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the average carbon dioxide emission of  (a) a new home built in 2016 according to the provisions of the code for sustainable homes and  (b) a new home built in 2016 on the basis of accountability by the house builder only for those carbon dioxide emissions that are covered by building regulations.

Andrew Stunell: On average a semi-detached home built to 2010 Building Regulation standards will emit 2.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum from all energy use in the home. Of this, 1.3 tonnes will be from emissions subject to the Building Regulations (i.e. emissions from heating, hot water, lighting and any other fixed building services but not emissions from the use of appliances). The new definition of zero carbon homes requires house builders to mitigate these emissions to ensure that, in net terms, they are reduced to zero. This is the equivalent to the energy standard in Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
	On top of this, to meet the energy standard in Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, emissions from appliances, such as televisions and hairdryers, have to be reduced, in net terms, to zero. However, emissions from appliances are also subject to a suite of other policies including the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and policies to increase the energy efficiency of appliances and the operation of these policies, cumulatively and in combination with the new definition, should have the result that the carbon footprint of new homes does not add to overall carbon reduction burdens.
	The Code for Sustainable Homes continues to be supported by the Government and goes far wider than just an energy based definition of sustainability. House builders can, if they wish, still seek to achieve the Code level 6 energy standard through their own measures.

Housing: Energy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will  (a) issue guidance on and  (b) bring forward legislative proposals to establish the minimum (i) standard assessment procedure and (ii) energy performance ratings required of existing housing stock.

Andrew Stunell: The Government are introducing the Green Deal in late 2012 to provide the means for households to improve their energy efficiency voluntarily. The Government are encouraging uptake through measures such as improving the advice and recommendations made to householders in Energy Performance Certificates, and working with social landlords to encourage large scale Green Deal retrofit schemes.
	In the private rented sector, where there remain a significant proportion of properties with an F and G performance rating, the Energy Bill legislation includes a measure to enable the introduction, from 2015, of a requirement on private landlords to
	(i) agree to reasonable requests from tenants for energy efficiency improvements and
	(ii) to improve the energy efficiency of all F and G rated homes.
	Any such measure would be conditional on upfront finance being available, for example through the Green Deal, to landlords for any such works and there being no net negative cost for landlords.

Housing: Energy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals for  (a) a strategy on and  (b) collection of statistics on the energy performance of existing archetypes of existing housing stock in England in order to develop investment plans for future housing stock to meet obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008.

Andrew Stunell: The Government already collects statistics in the English Housing Survey on the long-term trends in the energy performance of homes in England by property type. This can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingsurveys/englishhousingsurvey/
	Furthermore, the Energy Bill currently before Parliament contains measures to make more accessible the data contained in the register of energy performance certificates, which will enable more detailed analysis of the installed measures and carbon reduction potential in homes with energy performance certificates. This information will support the targeting of the Green Deal, the Government's policy for enabling investment in the energy efficiency of homes at no up-front cost to householders.

Housing: Newcastle

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to improve housing availability in the Benwell and Scotswood area of Newcastle.

Andrew Stunell: As set out in the coalition programme for government, we are promoting decentralisation and democratic engagement by giving new powers to local councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals, with new fiscal incentives for local authorities to develop housing. In reforming planning through the Localism Bill, we intend to abolish regional strategies and their associated top-down development targets, and introduce neighbourhood planning, to give communities a greater say in planning where housing growth should go.
	Our package of fiscal incentives includes the New Homes Bonus which will give communities a significant incentive to build the homes they need by matching the council tax for the following six years. Additionally, we are investing nearly £4.5 billion over the next four years to deliver up to 150.000 new affordable homes. Key to this is the introduction of an 'Affordable Rent' product which will give Housing Associations greater financial capacity to develop new affordable homes.

Infrastructure: Planning Permission

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers he plans to transfer to the Major Infrastructure Planning Unit.

Greg Clark: The Government have committed to transferring decision making on major infrastructure to Ministers. This is provided for through the Localism Bill, which transfers the responsibilities and powers of the Infrastructure Planning Commission to the Secretary of State. The Government have also said they will create a Major Infrastructure Planning Unit within the Planning Inspectorate to take on the day to day administration of the major infrastructure planning regime. The Planning Inspectorate is an Executive agency of the Department, and is capable of undertaking work in the name of the Secretary of State, so no formal transfer of powers to the unit is necessary.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: North East

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations are members of the North East Economic Partnership.

Bob Neill: The North East Economic Partnership is not a Government body, nor a local enterprise partnership, and therefore central Government do not play a role in determining its membership.

Local Government Finance: Northumberland

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department allocated to Northumberland county council in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: The total grant funding allocated by the Department of Communities and Local Government to Northumberland county council (from 2009-10, Northumberland unitary authority) is as follows:
	
		
			  Northumberland 
			   £000 
			 2005-06 236,791 
			 2006-07 100,014 
			 2007-08 103,453 
			 2008-09 127,478 
			 2009-10 170,171 
		
	
	The definition of central Government grant used here is the sum of:
	formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates)
	specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (ie revenue grants paid for council's core services) (only includes grants from this Department)
	specific grants outside Aggregate External Finance (only includes grants from this Department)
	Area Based Grant (from 2008-09), and
	'other grants' provided by all Government Departments.
	These figures are taken from revenue outturn forms provided by authorities after the end of a financial year. Figures for formula grant, Area Based Grant and other grants are aggregated grants for all Government Departments.
	Comparison across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities and changes to funding methodology. For example, the large apparent reduction in Northumberland's funding between 2005-06 and 2006-07 is due principally to the transfer of Dedicated School Grant (£150.5 million in 2006-07) from Formula Grant to Specific Grants inside Aggregate External Finance (from another Department).

Local Government: Pensions

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will work with the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Review Group to examine alternative reforms to achieve long term sustainability of the LGPS.

Bob Neill: The Local Government Pension Scheme Policy Review Group is engaged in developing its collective response to the recommendations made by Lord Hutton in his recently published report on public service pension scheme reform. This includes the central objective of maintaining the long term sustainability of the scheme, its affordability and fairness to employers and taxpayers.

Local Government: Pensions

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the funding raised by additional employee contributions to the local government pension scheme will not be used to improve the financial security of the scheme.

Bob Neill: Regulatory adjustments being considered to the existing local government pension scheme employee contribution tariff will improve the viability and affordability of the scheme, and its fairness to employers and taxpayers.

Planning Permission

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance and information he plans to provide to  (a) private house developers and  (b) landowners on changes to the planning system.

Bob Neill: The Government are committed to putting local councils, communities and local firms in the lead when it comes to delivering growth through a reformed planning system. We announced in the Plan for Growth that we will produce a shorter, more focused and inherently pro-growth national planning policy framework to deliver more development in suitable and viable locations. The framework will be published for consultation in the summer.

Planning Permission

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms exist to resolve disagreements in and between communities in the determination of planning issues matters.

Greg Clark: Communities are consulted extensively as part of the Local Development Framework, which provides the opportunity of resolving disagreements between communities over the future shape of development in their areas. The provisions in the Localism Bill introducing neighbourhood planning will further empower communities to work together to create a positive vision for their local area.
	Controversial planning applications are considered by locally elected councillors who assess the merits and demerits of proposals based on the evidence and prevailing planning policies.
	In addition, there is a statutory period of public consultation on all planning decisions, where communities have the opportunity to express views about specific development proposals. The Localism Bill will reinforce this ability for communities to influence the planning process through the introduction of a new duty upon developers to consult communities prior to the submission of larger planning applications.
	Planning decisions are made in accordance with the statutory Development Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Regional Planning and Development

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on the level of house-building of the abolition of regional spatial strategies.

Greg Clark: Under the last Government house building rates fell to their lowest peacetime levels since 1924. Regional targets clearly failed to build the right number of homes in the right places. Removing targets and replacing them with effective incentives, including the New Homes Bonus and Community Infrastructure Levy, will encourage local authorities and communities to increase their aspirations for housing and economic growth and to deliver sustainable development.
	House building starts in England in the first three quarters of 2010-11 were 23 percent higher than in the comparative period in 2009-10 (62,720 starts rising to 77,240) (DCLG, "House Building; December Quarter 2010", February 2011, Table 1a).
	The Government published an impact assessment of the abolition of the regional planning tier and introduction of the Duty to Co-operate on 31 January, available on the Department's website.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1829659.pdf

Rents

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's policy is on the principle that a tenant's rent is only spent on the services provided by the landlord.

Andrew Stunell: The proposed abolition of the subsidy system does not end the requirement for local authorities to maintain a statutory, ring-fenced housing revenue account. They will still be required to account to their tenants for income and expenditure on council housing separately from other functions and services. This ensures that council taxpayers do not subsidise services specifically for the benefit of tenants and that rent is not used to subsidise functions which are for the benefit of the wider local community.

Solace: Finance

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding  (a) his Department and  (b) the public bodies for which he is responsible provided to (i) Solace and (ii) Solace's associated companies in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10.

Bob Neill: The amount paid to the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and its associated companies by the Department for Communities and Local Government, its agencies, non-departmental public bodies, and other arm's length bodies is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  £ 
			  BCLG Organisation  Solace  Solace Foundation.  Solace Enterprises  ACE  Total 2008-09 
			 DCLG 1,763 - 30,429 - 32,193 
			 Government Offices - - - - - 
			 Tenant Services Authority - - - - - 
			 Local Government Ombudsman 203 - - - 203 
			 Homes and Communities Agency - - - - - 
			 Standards Board 1,891 - 1,208 2,150 5,248 
			 Planning Inspectorate - - - 360 360 
			 Ordnance Survey 70,500 - - - 70,500 
			 Audit Commission - 8,950 - - 8,950 
			 Total 74,356 8,950 31,636 2,510 117,452 
		
	
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  £ 
			  DCLG Organisation  Solace  Solace Foundation  Solace Enterprises  ACE  Total 2009-10 
			 DCLG 1,242 - - - 1,242 
			 Government Offices 794 - 18,000 - 18,793 
			 Tenant Services Authority 11,949 - - - 11,949 
			 Local Government Ombudsman 203 - 1,003 - 1,204 
			 Homes and Communities Agency - - 517 - 517 
			 Standards Board 6,598 - 2,530 2,232 11,360 
			 Planning Inspectorate - - - 370 370 
			 Ordnance Survey 70,000 - - - 70,000 
			 Audit Commission 5,721 5,000 - - 10,721 
			 Total 96,506 5,000 22,048 2,602 126,156 
		
	
	Where figures have been rounded, there may be a slight discrepancy between the total and the sum of constituent items.

Sports: Clubs

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to promote the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme.

Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government currently has no plans to promote the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme to local authorities, although we recognise this as an excellent opportunity for community-based amateur clubs to benefit from a range of tax reliefs, including Gift Aid.

Sports: Facilities

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what ways Neighbourhood Plans will confer extra protection on sport and recreation facilities.

Greg Clark: Research commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport into the regulatory burden on sport and recreation clubs was published in March 2011 ('Red Card to Red Tape-How sports clubs want to break free for bureaucracy'). It recommended that neighbourhood plans should consider the provision of sport and recreation facilities.
	The Localism Bill will allow communities to set out how important sport and recreation facilities should form part of their neighbourhood plan, which, if adopted, becomes part of the development plan.

Sustainable Development

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what factors he plans to take into account in developing a definition of sustainable development for use in the planning system.

Greg Clark: Current policy on the sustainable development principles that should underpin planning decisions is contained in Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development. The National Planning Policy Framework will consolidate and simplify the suite of existing national policy and guidance, and we will consult on a draft in the summer. That draft will also take into account responses to a consultation on the content of the National Planning Policy Framework, and will reflect the Government's vision for sustainable development announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 28 February this year.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dudley North of 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 919W, on tenancy deposit schemes, 
	(1)  what  (a) guarantees,  (b) underwriting,  (c) liabilities and  (d) obligations were agreed in relation to support for the three tenancy deposit protection schemes under the previous Administration;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the financial stability and integrity of each of the three tenancy deposit protection schemes, including the effect of low interest rates on their integrity, since May 2010;
	(3)  what steps he has taken since May 2010 to ensure that tenancy deposit schemes can meet their financial liabilities.

Grant Shapps: The three tenancy deposit protection schemes are operated by private companies under service concession agreements with my Department. All three schemes are designed to be self-financing.
	The service concession agreement that was agreed by the previous Administration with the custodial tenancy deposit protection scheme contained a guarantee that the Government would meet any shortfall arising if approved fees were not covered by the interest on deposits held. That guarantee was removed as part of a revised agreement negotiated in August 2010 which also incorporated a four year extension of the original agreement.
	Neither of the two insurance based tenancy deposit protection schemes' agreements have ever included any similar government guarantees, underwriting, liabilities or obligations.

Voluntary Organisations: Non-domestic Rates

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will encourage local authorities to offer rate relief to voluntary community organisations.

Bob Neill: Charities are generally entitled to 80% mandatory business rate relief. Local authorities must grant that relief where the relevant eligibility criteria have been met.
	In addition, councils have a power to offer discretionary rate relief. They can offer up to 100% rate relief to non-profit making organisations. Central Government funds 75% of the cost of discretionary rate relief.
	While the granting of discretionary rate relief is ultimately a decision for the local authority, I believe it has an important role to play in supporting the local voluntary sector, recognising the public benefit that voluntary groups give to their local community. We would expect local authorities to take full account of the central Government funding support for discretionary rate relief in making their decisions.
	Certain voluntary organisations may also be eligible for small business rates relief which we have doubled until 30 September 2012. Eligible organisations with rateable values below £6,000 will pay no rates for that period.
	Moreover, I have recently corresponded with the London borough of Camden on the issue of discretionary rate relief to the innovative People's Supermarket, as outlined in my Department's press notice of 3 March 2011.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Early Retirement

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's staff have taken early retirement in each of the last five years; and at what cost to his Department in each such year.

Alan Duncan: The following table shows the number of staff who have taken early retirement, under the provisions of the civil service compensation scheme, from the Department for International Development in each of the last five financial years.
	The following table shows total capitalised costs (including annual compensation payments or early/enhanced pensions) which are recorded against the year in which the retirement was approved.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of early departures  Total cost (£000) 
			 2006-07 19 2,478 
			 2007-08 50 5,587 
			 2008-09 14 2,147 
			 2009-10 29 3,853 
			 2010-11(1) 18 (2)1,337 
			 (1) Costs yet to be finalised (2) Approximately

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's commitment to agriculture and food security made at the G8 L'Aquila Summit has been disbursed to date; and under what budget headings it has been spent.

Alan Duncan: In the fiscal year 2009-10 the Department for International Development (DFID) had disbursed 32% of its total pledge of £1.1 billion to global food security and agriculture. DFID is, therefore, on track to meet its commitment made at the 2009 G8 summit held at L'Aquila. The £352 million disbursed in the 2009/10 fiscal year is comprised of the following:
	
		
			  Budget heading  Spend (£ million) 
			 Agriculture, Agro-industries, Forestry and Fishing 116.1 
			 Development Food Aid and Food Security Assistance 26.4 
			 Transport and Storage projects where the main purpose is to promote food security 8.8 
			 Rural Development projects 51.5 
			 Contribution through multilateral channels 149.7

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has for the use of the remaining funds from its commitment to agriculture and food security made at the G8 L'Aquila Summit before the 2012 deadline.

Alan Duncan: The recent bilateral and multilateral aid reviews have set out the results which DFID will deliver in the next four years. In summary, it is envisaged that we will stop 10 million more children going hungry and ensure a further four million people have enough food throughout the year.
	We anticipate working directly on food security in a small number of countries including Ethiopia, (South) Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burma. In other countries including Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi we will deliver programmes which improve the livelihoods of rural people and the enabling environment for small holder food producers. We will also continue to support multilateral agencies with a mandate on food and nutritional security. Agriculture will continue to be a major focus for DFID's Research and Evidence Division, which has increased its support for agriculture by 60% over the last three years.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the provision of generic drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in developing countries; and what his policy is on the  (a) international trade and  (b) intellectual property issues involved in the supply of such drugs.

Alan Duncan: The UK remains committed to the goal of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. This includes working with both originator and generic pharmaceutical companies to ensure that safe, affordable and effective drugs are available. Increasing value for money in terms of price, quality, market security and product suitability for developing country use is paramount. We are working with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria, UNITAID and other partners to encourage a more strategic approach to shaping international anti-retroviral markets.
	With regards to international trade and intellectual property issues involved in the supply of generic medicines, we stated in our recently published White Paper 'Trade and Investment for Growth' that we would seek to ensure that provisions on intellectual property rights in EU free trade agreements did not have negative impacts on the ability of the poorest to access low cost medicines. Further, legitimate generic products of assured quality should not be detained unnecessarily while in transit.

Employment Agencies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on  (a) recruitment agency fees , (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and  (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: In financial year 2010-11 the Department for International Development (DFID) spent the following:
	
		
			  Category of spend  2010-11 figure (£) 
			 Recruitment agency fees (1)1,254,961 
			 Outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff 25,950 
			 Staff training (2)3,140,519 
			 (1)This figure represents the total paid to recruitment agencies. These payments were for the services of temporary staff and included both payment to the individual and a fee to the recruitment agency. It is not possible to disaggregate this figure. (2) This figure represents payments to training providers for staff training and professional development for DFID staff, including staff appointed in country (SAIC).

Overseas Aid: Publicity

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to publicise its reasons for increasing official development assistance to 0.7 per cent. of gross national income by 2013.

Andrew Mitchell: I have taken every opportunity to publicise this Government's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA) from 2013, and to explain the results that British taxpayers should expect to see from this investment. The commitment was published in the coalition programme for government and the comprehensive spending review. I have reaffirmed this commitment is several speeches, both in the UK and overseas. Last month saw the publication of 'UK Aid: Changing Lives, Delivering Results', which set out clearly the pressing needs in developing countries, and how meeting the 0.7% target will transform lives.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma: Capital Punishment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Ambassador to Burma has raised with the government of Burma the circumstances of the execution on 19 November 2010 by Border Guard Force soldiers of a 75 year old man from Dtra Greh township, Pa'an district, Karen state.

Henry Bellingham: We were concerned to read the Karen Human Rights Group bulletin which reported this incident. Our embassy in Rangoon is speaking with groups in Burma to corroborate the report. Our ambassador regularly raises with the Burmese authorities the Government's serious concern over the regime's human rights violations.

Burma: Politics and Government

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of attacks by the Burma Army on civilians in the Manorone area of Ta Naw Tha Ri township, Karen state.

Henry Bellingham: The Government were concerned to read of the Free Burma Rangers report and other reports from February which documented the aftermath of attacks on Karen communities, and the Burmese regime's continuing persecution of and violence towards ethnic groups such as the Karen. The UK helped secure a robust resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council which called on the Burmese regime to take urgent measures to end their violations of international human rights and humanitarian law including the targeting of civilians in ethnic areas.

Burma: War Crimes

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on EU support for a UN commission of inquiry into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

Henry Bellingham: The Government most recently discussed the prospect of a UN Commission of Inquiry in Burma at official level with other EU member states in March 2011. Officials have in recent weeks also raised this issue bilaterally with Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Irish and Lithuanian counterparts. The Government continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur's recommendation for the UN to consider the idea of a Commission of Inquiry, and is working with other countries to build international support.

Departmental Secondment

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of his Department are on secondment to  (a) a business organisation and  (b) a charitable or non-governmental organisation.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold a central record of all its staff working on secondment with outside organisations as staff may also take special unpaid leave (SUPL) from the FCO to take up these appointments. Staff on SUPL are not counted as FCO employees for the duration of these appointments and their locations are not tracked.
	However, there are nine FCO staff on formal secondment to business organisations.

EU Action

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of the Government is on the examination of the scientific evidence presented by the European Commission in support of legislative proposals presented to the Council of Ministers.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believe that European legislation should be based upon a strong evidence base, including, when appropriate, scientific evidence. In this context we support President Barroso's intention to appoint a Chief Scientific Advisor. We also welcome a strengthening of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in providing robust scientific and technical advice to support development and implementation of EU legislation.
	It should also be noted that evidence presented in support of EU legislation will be examined by the UK and, where necessary, challenged well before any legislation reaches the European Council. For proposals which do go to Council it may be that scientific arguments will previously have been discussed at working groups of member states including the UK. The lead Department in the UK will have assessed the evidence presented by the Commission and may have presented its own evidence to the Commission. Scientific evidence is therefore thoroughly examined but final decisions do take into account broader issues and a range of evidence, not always principally scientific, may be offered in support.

Exports: Dairy Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to support the development of export markets for UK dairy producers  (a) in the Far East and China and  (b) elsewhere.

Henry Bellingham: holding answer 4 April 2011
	I refer my hon. Friend to the response from the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk) on 23 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1115W.

Government Communications

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the operating costs of the Research, Information and Communications Unit in the Home Office  (a) was met by his Department in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10 and  (b) will be so met in 2010-11.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the response from my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) of 31 March 2011,  Official Report, column 458W.

Haiti: Politics and Government

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Haiti following the time taken to announce the outcome of the Presidential elections.

Henry Bellingham: We continue to underline the need for all Haitian parties to continue to demonstrate their commitment to a free, fair and transparent electoral process. We understand that the delay in announcing the preliminary results is due to the Haitian Provisional Election Council (CEP) making additional checks of the vote tabulations. 14 May 2011 is the date set for the inauguration of the new President. It is vital that this date does not slip, as any political vacuum or loss of momentum would threaten the continuity of the reconstruction efforts so essential to Haiti's rehabilitation. The Organisation of America States Caribbean Community Election Observation Mission will give its considered opinion of the conduct of the Second Round in the coming weeks. We, along with others in the International Community and in Haiti, will draw important conclusions from that assessment about the state of Haitian democracy. It is vital that the next President works in the interests of all the Haitian people to continue the important task of reconstruction.

Ko Mya Aye

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Burma on the  (a) detention of and  (b) access to medical treatment of Ko Mya Aye.

Henry Bellingham: Our ambassador to Rangoon most recently reiterated the need to release all political prisoners, especially those in poor health such as Ko Mya Aye, on 26 January 2011 during a meeting with Burmese officials in Naypyitaw. Our embassy regularly raises concerns over prison conditions with senior regime officials and works with prisoner support networks and non-governmental organisations to assist the families of prisoners who ask for our assistance. The Government helped secure a tough resolution at the Human Rights Council in March 2011 which called for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK humanitarian aid flights have landed in Libya since UN Security Resolution 1973 was adopted; and how much aid has been delivered.

Alistair Burt: No UK aid flights have landed in Libya since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1973; however the UK is providing assistance and protection to the people of Benghazi through our funding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The UK is providing £2 million to ICRC, enabling it to provide medical teams to treat and provide medical supplies to 3,000 people in Libya affected by the ongoing fighting. The ICRC will also provide food and supplies to 100,000 of those most in need.
	Lack of access by humanitarian agencies makes it difficult to give a comprehensive view of humanitarian needs in Libya. However, to date humanitarian agencies have reported no widespread, urgent humanitarian needs in Benghazi. In eastern Libya more generally, people have access to food, water and electricity, although there remain pockets of specific needs. Disruption to regular supply chains also risks causing shortages of basic items. Medical supplies are reaching eastern Libya and hospitals are functioning but stretched, with some staff shortages. Throughout Libya we have serious concerns for the protection of civilians.
	Over 12,000 people have been repatriated from the borders with Libya on UK-funded flights. Blankets and tents also delivered by the UK provide shelter for up to 10,000 people. UK funded air operations specialists are helping co-ordinate repatriations as part of our efforts to prevent logistics difficulties in Tunisia and Egypt becoming a humanitarian crisis.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ability to deliver humanitarian assistance to Benghazi following the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Alistair Burt: Since the adoption and enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 a number of agencies have returned to, or established operations in Benghazi, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières and International Medical Corps. However the situation remains precarious and the conflict poses an ongoing risk to humanitarian access, with the situation changing day to day.
	Benghazi is also being used as a hub for the onward delivery of assistance. The World Food Programme is using it as an entry point for food aid and the Interim Transitional National Council has been able to forward aid from Benghazi to the besieged city of Misrata.
	The prime concerns in Libya now are for people caught up in the fighting: attacks on civilians, medical needs of the wounded and sick, and those displaced by fighting, as well as access for humanitarian agencies.

Libya: Aviation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department has incurred in chartering aircraft to Libya in 2011.

Alistair Burt: Our provisional cost is £1 million. This will not be confirmed until the Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives final invoices.

Libya: Politics and Government

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on the detention by Libyan authorities of Iman al-Obaidi; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of this case, which on 30 March 2011 the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has described as:
	"shocking to the whole world"
	and as one which demonstrates the Gaddafi regime's:
	"absolute disregard for any understanding of human rights".
	Miss Iman al-Obaidi's claims must be investigated thoroughly, and if she is indeed still being detained, she should be freed and given access to legal representation.

Libya: Students

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the effects of financial sanctions on Libya on Libyan students who are living and studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Government have been careful to implement the UN sanctions regime so as to minimise any adverse effects on Libyan students in the UK. We are working with the universities and the Libyan People's Bureau in London to get a fuller picture of who may be adversely affected by the sanctions.

Libya: Students

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with banks to ensure that Libyan students who are living and studying in the UK are not disadvantaged as a result of financial sanctions on Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Treasury has issued licences to enable payments to be made in respect of students in the UK who are sponsored by Libyan entities whose assets have been frozen. Such payments include educational, living and maintenance costs incurred by sponsored students.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit Somaliland on official business.

Henry Bellingham: We are not able to publicise plans for future visits for security reasons. The Government regularly engage with the Somaliland Government, both in London and in the horn of Africa region. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell) visited Somaliland on 31 January 2011.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official visits Ministers in his Department have made to Somaliland in the last five years.

Henry Bellingham: There have been no visits by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers to Somaliland in the last five years.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at EU level on Somaliland.

Henry Bellingham: The EU Foreign Affairs Council on 21 March 2011 adopted Conclusions on Somalia. These included agreement that the EU would aim to enhance its support to regions of Somalia, such as Somaliland, and remained committed to peace, stability and democracy.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at UN level on Somaliland.

Henry Bellingham: I attended a UN Security Council Open debate on Somalia on 11 March 2011 in New York. During this debate, the UN Security Council agreed to urge the International Community to provide additional support to the Transitional Federal Government, local and regional administrations, including Somaliland, to develop government institutions, strengthen civil society, prevent and resolve conflict, and take forward socio-economic reconstruction.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) letters,  (b) emails and  (c) other items of correspondence on the status of Somaliland his Department has received in each of the last 12 months.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives regular e-mail correspondence on the status of Somaliland, making it difficult to give precise figures. In the past 12 months, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received at least 15 letters from members of the public and 12 letters from Members of Parliament on the status of Somaliland.

Somaliland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings officials in his Department have had with officials from Somaliland in the last five years.

Henry Bellingham: We hold regular meetings with the Somaliland administration at official and ministerial level both in the UK and in the Horn of Africa region, including in Somaliland. Recent examples include official level meetings during President Silanyo's visit to London in November 2010, the visit of the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Director for Africa to Hargeisa in March, and meetings in the margins of a Somaliland Investment Conference, organised by the FCO and the Anglo-Somaliland Chamber of Commerce, in London on 31 March 2011.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to support the Big Society initiative.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a strong tradition of voluntary work, ranging from individuals getting involved with their local communities to whole Departments undertaking voluntary activities in the UK and throughout our overseas network.
	The FCO actively supports public and private voluntary service by its staff through allowing both paid and unpaid special leave to undertake voluntary activities. The amount of time given varies according to the nature of the activity, but all employees are offered up to five days paid special leave a year to volunteer. Examples of some of the voluntary activity undertaken by individual members of staff granted special paid leave are:
	Independent Custody Visitor, reporting findings of unannounced visits to detention centres
	Youth Educator, Envision Project
	Participation in reintegration project for young ex convicts
	Facilitation of Royal Commonwealth Society Commonwealth Youth Summits
	Event promotion for Croydon Community Against Trafficking
	In addition, in 2010 FCO staff in London and at 55 posts overseas ran a mile as part of Sport Relief and raised over £43,000 for 60 charities in the UK and overseas.
	The Big Society approach is also reflected in the activities of our posts around the world in empowering local communities. Many of our staff overseas have given up their time to help local community projects, and have assisted charitable organisations through donations and fund-raising activities. The 'Speed Sisters' project in Palestine is an example of a project where, by providing financial and practical support to a Palestinian women's racing team that had been struggling to compete, our consulate staff were able to challenge widely held views of women in the middle east.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Henry Bellingham: The Special Investigator announced in April 2010 that 18 months would be a reasonable time for the criminal investigations to be completed.
	The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) continues to make progress and reports regularly to a Strategic Oversight Group (SOG), that includes the Turks and Caicos Islands Chief Executive and the Commissioner of Police.
	It is part of the SOG's remit to ensure that the SIPT works efficiently, keeps within a justified budget and pursues a sound investigation strategy. The SIPT's reports to the SOG include information on the timing of critical operational matters. This information is highly confidential, and would be regarded as such in any major criminal investigation.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK policy of the departure from office of President Saleh of Yemen before any transfer of power to a new administration.

Alistair Burt: UK policy in Yemen remains to encourage and assist the development of a unified, secure, democratic and prosperous Yemen.
	To this end, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence work closely together under a comprehensive strategy which aims to help the Yemenis tackle economic and security issues in parallel with broader issues of political representation.
	The UK will welcome and support any decision of the people of Yemen to deepen their democratic structures. The UK remains a friend to the people of Yemen and remains committed to helping to improve Yemen's stability, economic development, the implementation of human rights, the reduction of conflict and the degradation of terrorism.
	Any issue relating to the presidency and possible change of power are properly a matter for the Yemeni people. We continue to watch developments closely.

TRANSPORT

Airports: Planning

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 182W, on Heathrow airport, if he will set out each relevant Government policy that is to be taken into account as a material consideration where a planning application is made for expansion of an airport.

Theresa Villiers: There is no fixed list of national policies which are material considerations whenever airport expansion is proposed. The circumstances and the potential impacts of the development will not always be the same. It is for the decision-makers in any planning case to decide which factors are relevant to the case, and how much weight to attach to each. Individual policies in a planning policy statement or planning policy guidance note might be a material consideration in one case, but have no bearing in another.

Aviation: Noise

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the fitting of silencers to small planes.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 29 March 2011
	Most light aircraft are required to meet international standards on aircraft noise and will be fitted with some form of silencer to provide basic reduction in noise from the engine's exhaust system. In addition, enhanced silencers have been developed for many light aircraft types.
	The responsibility for the certification of small aircraft is dependent upon the type of aircraft. For those that fall under the provisions of Regulation (EU) 216/2008, the Basic Regulation, the responsibility rests with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). However, for small aircraft EASA will largely validate the certification carried out by the State of Design, e.g. the USA. The configuration of the aircraft to meet noise requirements is generally achieved as part of the aircraft design process.
	For aircraft that do not fall within EASA's remit the UK CAA is responsible for those aircraft that are registered in the UK. At present, homebuilt aircraft are not required to conform to the noise requirements.

Aviation: Olympic Games 2012

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which private air fields, flight schools and leisure flight operators will be within the exclusion zone during the London 2012 Olympics.

Theresa Villiers: The recently announced London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics airspace restrictions are intended to apply to the following aerodromes marked on the 1:250000 Aeronautical Chart:
	Andrewsfield
	Ascot
	Audley End
	Battersea Heliport
	Benington
	Bicknor Farm
	Biggin Hill
	Blackbushe
	Boreham
	Damyns Hall
	Denham
	Dunsfold
	Dunstable Downs
	Duxford
	Earls Colne
	Egerton
	Elstree
	Fairoaks
	Farnborough
	Farthing Corner
	Fowlmere
	Gerpins Farm
	Graveley
	Halton
	Harpsden
	Henlow
	High Easter
	High Wycombe
	Hunsden
	Hurley Lodge
	Jackrells Farm
	Jenkins Farm
	Kenley
	Kirdford
	Laddingford
	Laindon
	Lamberhurst
	Lashenden
	Lewknor
	Linton
	Lippitts Hill
	London Colney
	Meppershall
	Napps Field
	North Weald
	Nuthampstead
	Old Hay
	Panshanger
	Plaistow
	Rayne
	Redhill
	Ridgewell
	Rochester
	Rush Green
	Russells Farm
	Rydinghurst
	Southend
	Spring Farm
	Stapleford
	Stoke
	Thurrock
	Waits Farm
	Warlingham
	Wethersfield
	White Waltham
	Willingdale
	Wycombe Air Park
	We also expect that all small landing strips located within the planned prohibited or restricted zones will be covered by the temporary airspace restrictions.
	All airspace users wishing to operate in these zones will need to comply with the airspace restrictions in place.

Aviation: Olympic Games 2012

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether steps will be taken to compensate private air fields, flight schools and leisure flight operators who are within the exclusion zone during the London 2012 Olympics.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have no plans to compensate aerodrome operators or airspace users who may be affected by the planned security restrictions for the London 2012 Games.

Cycling

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the behavioural impact analysis report by the Cycle to Work Alliance on the effects on the cycling industry of the financial incentives provided by the cycle to work scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: I welcomed the publication of the behavioural impact analysis report by the Cycle to Work Alliance and also provided a supportive foreword. There are no plans to make a further statement or conduct an assessment on the effects on the cycling industry of the financial incentives provided by the cycle to work scheme.

Cycling England

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what residual functions will remain following the abolition of Cycling England; which organisation will carry out each such function; what the estimated costs of each such function are; and what transfer of funds will be made to each organisation to carry out each such function.

Norman Baker: Cycling England will cease to exist after 31 March 2011 and promotion of cycling will fall to the Department for Transport and local authorities.
	Funding for cycling will be subsumed into the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. £560 million is available over four years for sustainable transport solutions including cycling. Local authorities will also have ring fenced resources for public health, which could include promoting cycling.
	A number of national cycling projects will continue to be funded through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, overseen by Department for Transport.
	These are:
	Bikeability Cycle Training has been allocated £11 million in 2011-12 and will continue to be supported for the duration of this Parliament. The delivery arrangements for this are currently being considered.
	Links to Schools, Bike It and Bike Club have been allocated £12.7 million in 2011-12 via a grant to the Active Travel Consortium. After March 2012 local authorities will be expected to support such projects themselves.

Departmental Estate

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: I refer to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Davey) on 14 March 2011,  Official Report, column 150W.
	In addition, the Department for Transport has exercised a lease break on approximately one third of its main London headquarters building which will cease to be occupied by the Department from the end of 2012. We estimate that this measure will save £5 million per year.

Departmental Public Bodies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Renewable Fuels Agency.

Norman Baker: On 16 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 9-10WS, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), issued a written ministerial statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.
	I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 23 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 1144-5W. This provides our best current estimate of the level of savings which will accrue from the dissolution of the Renewable Fuels Agency and the transfer of its functions to the Department for Transport.

Departmental Public Bodies

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

Norman Baker: On 16 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 9-10WS, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), issued a written ministerial statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.
	I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 30 March 2011,  Official Report, column 351W. This is our best current estimate of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

Departmental Theft

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from his Department since his appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport comprises seven agencies, a shared service centre and the central Department (the 'Department'). The figures provided in the following table are for all items recorded as lost by or stolen from DFT staff, from either on and off the various premises of the Department and includes both Department owned assets and staff personal property. The figures provided do not include losses or thefts where records are not available centrally or where such losses or thefts were not reported. While some of this information may exist in records held locally within the central Department and the agencies, it can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
	The property recorded as lost and stolen since May 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			   Lost  Stolen 
			 Central DFT 10 BlackBerry 8 BlackBerry 
			  - 1 Laptop 
			
			 Agencies and shared service centre 2 Laptops 8 Laptops 
			  4 BlackBerry Watch 
			  Projector iPhone 
			  Digital Radio PC and screen 
			  Airwave radio High Visibility Suit 
			  - Bicycle 
			  - 250 litres of heating oil 
			  - Gas boiler flue 
		
	
	It would not be appropriate to comment on specific cases, however, the Department takes firm action to investigate thefts and seeks to recover losses. Instances of theft are reported to the police whenever appropriate.
	Information held on departmental laptops and BlackBerrys is encrypted to appropriate HMG standards. All such BlackBerrys reported as lost or stolen are remotely erased.

Driving Standards Agency

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Driving Standards Agency  (a) received in income from and  (b) spent on administration of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence in the financial year 2009-10.

Michael Penning: In the 2009-10 financial year the agency received £3.1 million of income and incurred total costs of £3.74 million on the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.

European Aviation Safety Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral answer of 10 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1053, on the European Aviation Safety Agency, what his policy is on lowering flight time limitations as a result of the proposed European Aviation Safety Agency legislation.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to comments submitted by my Department and the Civil Aviation Authority to the European Aviation Safety Agency's consultation on flight time limitations which are published in Civil Aviation Information Notice Number IN-2011/18 at:
	www.caa.co.uk

Exhaust Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the draft Local Authority Basic Carbon tool in evaluating the carbon impact of whole area interventions, including those delivered through the Sustainable Travel Town programme, prior to the introduction of the tool.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport undertook a full, independent evaluation of the Sustainable Travel Town programme in March 2010, including carbon impacts. The Department has not undertaken a retrospective evaluation of such interventions using the carbon tool, which only went live on 16 February 2011.

Great Western Railway: Electrification

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pontypridd of 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 835W, on the Great Western Railway: electrification, when he plans to place in the Library details of the business case work which assisted his Department in determining the further extension of electrification of the Great Western Main Line.

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the details of the business case work prepared in respect of the electrification of the Great Western main line between Cardiff and Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Details of the business case work, which assisted the Department for Transport in determining the case for further Great Western electrification, was placed in the Libraries of the House on 31 March.

High Speed Two Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which public libraries his Department has sent hard copies of the consultation documents on the proposals for High Speed Two.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 4 April 2011
	Hard copies of all of the consultation documents were sent to the following libraries:
	Amersham Library
	Atherstone Library
	Aylesbury Library
	Banbury Library
	Beaconsfield Library
	Birmingham Central Library
	Brackley Library
	Buckingham Library
	Coventry Central Library
	Daventry Library
	Ealing Central Library
	Fulham Reference Library
	Harrow Civic Centre Reference Library
	High Wycombe Library
	Highbury and Islington Central Library
	Kensington Central Library
	Lichfield Library
	Oxford Central Library
	Rickmansworth Library
	Solihull Central Library
	Swiss Cottage Central Library
	Tamworth Library
	Uxbridge Library
	Warwick Library
	Westminster Reference Library
	Willesden Green Library Centre
	Copies of the main consultation document, the summary and the consultation CD, were also sent to 139 councils along the proposed London to West Midlands route.

High Speed Two

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the role and responsibilities are of Mr Ian Jordan, Project Sponsor of HS2 Ltd; and what remuneration he receives.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 30 March 2011
	Mr Jordan's role encompasses the following responsibilities:
	developing the overall case for HS2 London-west midlands for the current consultation and co-ordinating HS2 Ltd's advice to Government;
	leading the option selection process for route proposals from the west midlands to Leeds and Manchester and producing a report to the Secretary of State;
	HS2's demand modelling and economic analysis; responsible for building the economic case for HS2 and developing the more detailed analysis necessary to support a hybrid Bill;
	programme and project management for HS2.
	Mr Jordan is a senior civil servant in pay band 1 (SCSI). Under the Government's Transparency Agenda, individual base pay is disclosed (in £5,000 bands) only for SCS pay band 2 and above.

High Speed Two: Rolling Stock

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the likely average seat occupancy rate of High Speed Two trains.

Philip Hammond: I refer my right hon. Friend to the 'Economic Case for HS2: The Y Network and London-West Midlands', available on the consultation website at:
	http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/economic-case

London-Norwich Railway Line

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent from the public purse on rebranding  (a) engines and  (b) rolling stock used on rail services between Norwich and London in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2010-11.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold information related to rebranding of rolling stock on the Norwich to London line. A decision to rebrand is a commercial matter for a train operating company.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has had made of the likely level of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of a hybrid car compared to that of a petrol or diesel car.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold data on lifetime, emissions of hybrid cars compared to petrol or diesel cars.
	No detailed studies have been undertaken to compare production and end of life emissions and it not possible to fully compare in-use emissions due to insufficient data.
	However, we can say that the majority of life cycle emissions for all vehicles are associated with the usage phase. Information collected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for 2010 shows that the average emissions for newly registered hybrid cars was 106 gCO2/km, petrol cars was 145 gCO2/km, diesel cars was 144 gCO2/km and .the average of petrol and diesel combined was 144.6 gCO2/km.
	This means that the average UK hybrid car is a 26% improvement on average of a diesel car, a 27% improvement on an average petrol car and 27% improvement on the average petrol and diesel cars combined.

Motor Vehicles: Finchley

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of applications for renewal of vehicle excise duty tax discs were made  (a) online and  (b) at post offices by (i) all residents and (ii) residents over the age of 65 years of Finchley and Golders Green constituency in the latest period in which figures are available.

Michael Penning: The information requested about the proportion of residents of Finchley and Golders Green renewing their vehicle excise duty using the Internet and the Post Office is not readily available and would incur disproportionate costs to gather. Information about residents over the age of 65 is not held.
	Throughout Great Britain the proportion split for renewing vehicle excise duty tax discs during the financial year 2009-10 was online 41%; Post Office 54%; Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Local Offices 2% and electronically to fleet operators 3%.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to assist police forces and insurers to address motor vehicle insurance fraud;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to tackle fraud in the motor insurance industry.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport has recently introduced Continuous Insurance Enforcement which is expected to have a significant effect in reducing the use of uninsured vehicles.
	We are working with the motor insurance industry to provide industry participants with automated access to a driver's record so that they can check the driver's entitlement to drive, endorsements or driving convictions when applying for motor insurance cover. The intention is to prevent drivers providing false or misleading information which may compromise cover and invalidate the policy.
	The police already take steps to tackle those who are not validly insured and other fraud. I will also consider with the Home Office a proposal for a dedicated police unit on insurance fraud, paid for by the insurance industry, as proposed in the recent Transport Select Committee's report on motor insurance.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the review of pavement parking conducted in 1988.

Norman Baker: The review did not lead to any formal conclusions, but it did inform the development of legislation, including the Road Traffic Acts of 1988 and 1991.
	I have recently written to all English traffic authorities in England (outside London) to remind them of the powers and tools they already have to tackle local pavement parking problems, and to issue them with the special authorisation necessary for new signs for area-wide bans.

Radioactive Materials

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which radioactive materials were carried on the ship Captain Yakovlev which departed from Hull on 25 February 2011 for St Petersburg; and which company owned the cargo.

Michael Penning: The regulatory regime for the transport of radioactive materials requires consignors to notify Department for Transport of only a very limited proportion of the many thousands of shipments of low level radioactive material which are safely undertaken each year. We have received no notification of this consignment.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what consideration his Department has given to removing responsibility for rail and signalling infrastructure from Network Rail in  (a) Scotland,  (b) the South Western region,  (c) the South Central region and  (d) the South Eastern region;
	(2)  what consideration his Department has given to removing Anglia area rail track and signalling infrastructure from the responsibility of Network Rail in 2011.

Theresa Villiers: Sir Roy McNulty's Rail Value for Money Study has considered a range of options relating to responsibility for the rail network. The study will present its findings shortly. Sir Roy's recommendations and responses to those recommendations will shape the Government's proposals for the reform of the industry, which we intend to set out later this year.

Railways: Electrification

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to further electrification of the UK's existing rail infrastructure.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 29 March 2011
	As well as a package of electrification in the North West, which includes electrification between Manchester and Liverpool via Newton-le-Willows and electrification to Blackpool North, we recently announce plans to extend the existing programme of electrification of the Great Western Main Line to Bristol and Cardiff. We are currently working with the Welsh Assembly Government on a proposal to electrify the Valleys lines north of Cardiff.
	The Government support a progressive electrification of the rail network in England and Wales as a way of reducing the cost of running the railways, increasing passenger comfort and reducing carbon. We continue to work with Network Rail to look at the case for further electrification in the next rail control period starting in 2014.

Railways: Infrastructure

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost-benefit analysis his Department has undertaken on proposals for restructuring of rail and signalling infrastructure in  (a) Scotland,  (b) the South Western region,  (c) the South Central region and  (d) the South Eastern region.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has made no such assessment. The independent Office of Rail Regulation is responsible for assessing the performance of Network Rail in driving efficiencies on the rail network while delivering the Government's High Level Output Specification.

Railways: North West

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effects on rail fares of the development of the Northern Hub.

Theresa Villiers: No assessment has been made of possible impact on future rail fares arising from the development of the Northern Hub.

Railways: Shropshire

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that a direct rail service between Shropshire and London is included within the new West Coast franchise.

Theresa Villiers: The rail service for the next West Coast franchise is currently under consultation. This consultation will not be completed until 21 April 2011. The Department for Transport has received representations regarding previous Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone services as part of this consultation. The Invitation to Tender is expected to published in early May 2011 and this will detail the train services that bidders for the franchise will be expected to operate.

Railways: Wales

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the business case for electrification of the South Wales Valleys rail lines.

Theresa Villiers: Copies of the business case for electrification of the South Wales Valleys rail lines were placed in the Libraries of the House on 31 March 2011.

Rescue Services: VAT

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to implement the value added tax refund for Mountain Rescue.

Michael Penning: holding answer 29 March 2011
	I have been advised by HM Treasury that there has been no announcement on extending zero rates of VAT to benefit mountain rescue teams. However, discussions are continuing on determining a suitable grant system for distributing the funds to support the purchase of mountain rescue equipment announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the 8 February. More details will be available in due course.

Roads: Safety

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans his Department has for road safety campaigns on television in 2011-12;
	(2)  what plans his Department has for road safety campaigns in schools in 2011-12;
	(3)  whether his Department plans to run road safety campaigns for children in conjunction with the private sector in 2011-12;
	(4)  whether his Department has a ring-fenced budget for road safety for children in 2011-12.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport is currently developing its communication plans for 2011-12 and future years. The spending review allocated £3.5 million for road safety communications in 2011-12.
	Child road safety will remain a priority. Plans for child road safety have yet to be submitted and approved although we expect to include child road safety campaigns in partnership with the private sector. The plan will be subject to the controls on advertising and marketing spend governed by the Efficiency and Reform Group.
	The THINK! education materials (covering early years, primary and secondary school children) will remain available for use within schools.
	There are no current plans for television road safety campaigns in 2011-12.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2011,  Official Report, column 786W, on rolling stock, what the source is of the base data on which the net present value calculation was made; and what the assumed  (a) procurement and  (b) maintenance costs are of the electric trains and locomotives.

Theresa Villiers: The data on which the calculation was made came from sources that included Network Rail, the rail Network Modelling Framework (NMF), data from previous rolling stock deals and the recent Intercity Express programme (IEP) proposal from Agility Trains. The capital rental of full length electric trains was assumed to cost around £260,000 per month, with the capital rental of each locomotive assumed to cost around £30,000 per month. The maintenance of eight-car electric trains was assumed to cost £3.56 per mile, with the maintenance of each locomotive assumed to cost £0.45 per mile.
	The above costs are given at 2009-10 prices.

Sea Rescue

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the most recent tests for local knowledge administered to coastguards working at maritime rescue co-ordination centres.

Michael Penning: The current coastguard local knowledge tests are developed and administered separately by the management of each maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC). The subject areas covered are consistent, but the tests themselves vary in format and style between locations. I have arranged for copies of the current tests to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Tamar Valley Railway Line

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the construction of communication masts along the Tamar Valley line is required to be carried out under an obligation required by any European directive;
	(2)  if he will review the adequacy of  (a) consultation with local residents and  (b) protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty of the permitted development rights arrangements under which Network Rail is constructing communication masts along the Tamar Valley line.

Theresa Villiers: There is a requirement under the interoperability directive 2008/57 for railway subsystems to comply with technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs). The current TSI for control-command and signalling applies to high speed or conventional lines on the trans-European rail system and requires the installation of a global system for mobile communication (GSM-R) based secure radio system for new or upgraded lines. The TSI does not require a GSM-R system for lines outside of the scope of the TSI.
	Network Rail propose GSM-R is rolled out beyond the lines covered by the scope of the TSI and across their entire rail network on the grounds that this offers the most cost-effective and safe solution.
	The location of individual GSM-R masts is an operational matter for Network Rail in which Ministers have no power to intervene. Network Rail's permitted development rights (PDRs) enable the company to carry out certain development on its operational land in connection with the movement of traffic by rail without having to make a specific planning application. These rights are set out in part 17 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order 1995 (the GPDO). The GPDO is administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Network Rail advises that its PDRs apply in areas of outstanding natural beauty and we understand the company followed guidance from DCLG about informing local authorities and residents in advance of the development.

Thameslink

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the 60-year cost-benefit ratio of  (a) the Thameslink programme,  (b) Crossrail,  (c) High Speed One and  (d) High Speed Two.

Theresa Villiers: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The benefit cost ratio for the current Thameslink investment is 2.2:1.
	 (b) The benefit cost ratio of Crossrail is 1.92:1.
	 (c) The Secretary of State has not made an estimate of the 60 year cost-benefit ratio for High Speed 1 using the current economic assessment methodology. Cost-benefit ratios were calculated during the life of the project using the methodology of the time. Information on these is available in National Audit Office reports dated 28 March 2001 and 21 July 2005. Both reports are available from the NAO.
	 (d) The Government estimate that the benefit cost ratio for the proposed Y-shaped HS2 network is 2.6:1.

Thameslink Railway Line: Standards

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of delay minutes on the Thameslink Route were attributed to  (a) Network Rail,  (b) First Capital Connect and  (c) delays to First Capital Connect services caused by other train operating companies in each of the last 15 performance periods for which figures are available.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail is responsible for performance data for the rail industry. The hon. Lady may wish to contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for such information:
	David Higgins
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG.

Thameslink Railway Line: Standards

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the  (a) performance and  (b) level of customer service under the franchise agreement provided by First Capital Connect on the Thameslink rail route.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 31 March 2011
	Department for Transport officials meet every four weeks to review compliance against the franchisee's contractual commitments, including the delivery of specific performance obligations. During the most recent four-weekly assessment period, First Capital Connect was compliant with all its franchise commitments.

Transport: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the change in the real terms cost of a passenger journey by  (a) private car,  (b) bus,  (c) rail and  (d) air since 2000.

Norman Baker: I have not estimated changes in the real cost of passenger journeys by car, bus or rail. Instead the Department for Transport (DfT) use data from the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). This shows that between 2000 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 8%, bus and coach fares increased by 20% and rail fares increased by 15% in real terms.
	The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data so is provided from DfT analysis. The average cost of a one-way domestic flight air fare, including taxes and charges, fell by 34% in real terms between 2000 and 2008, the latest date for which figures are available.

Transport: Passengers

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of passengers travelled by  (a) private car,  (b) bus,  (c) rail and  (d) air transport in each year since 2000.

Norman Baker: The National Travel Survey covers residents of Great Britain and produces estimates of the number of trips made per person per year, by mode of transport. The most recent estimates for 2009 and earlier years are available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/nts/how-mode/nts0303.xls
	The percentage of trips that each mode accounted for during 2009 are available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/nts/how-mode/nts0301.xls
	The National Travel Survey covers travel within Great Britain only and the number of air trips within the survey is small. Air travel is therefore included in the "other" category in these tables.

Waterloo Station

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate has been made of the book value of Waterloo International railway terminal.

Theresa Villiers: The former Eurostar facility at Waterloo is owned and managed by BRB (Residuary) Ltd (BRBR) on behalf of the Department for Transport. The latest valuation was carried out as at 31 December 2009 and is included in BRBR's 2009-10 annual report and accounts. These show that the book value of the facility at that date was £3.2 million. This valuation is split into four parts as follows;
	Freehold station valued at £35.7 million
	Leasehold concourse valued at £1.0 million
	Leased coach park valued at £0.3 million
	Leased arches beneath domestic station valued at negative £33.8 million
	The commercial value of these assets is likely to exceed the book value.

West Coast Railway Line

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has allocated to the costs of tendering for the West Coast rail franchise.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport anticipates that the costs of tendering for the West Coast rail franchise will be in the order of £1,220,810.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Agriculture: Environment Protection

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of agricultural businesses which will receive funding from his Department for the use of low-carbon technology and energy-efficient equipment in each of the next four financial years.

Gregory Barker: DECC is in the process of prioritising funding for innovation for the next four years to focus on those technologies and programmes where the need is greatest and that will have the greatest impact on meeting the Department's climate change and energy objectives. It is, therefore, not possible to estimate the number of agriculture businesses that will receive funding from DECC for the use of low-carbon technology and energy equipment over this period.
	Anaerobic Digestion (AD), a relevant technology for many agricultural businesses, is eligible for the feed-in-tariff's (FIT) scheme which reward small scale low carbon electricity generation. We are currently consulting on proposals to increase tariffs for AD installations with an installed capacity of up to 500kW.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials in his Department are provided with mobile communication devices; and how much his Department spent on mobile telephones and related data services in the last year for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: As of 4 April 2011, DECC had 436 officials with mobile communication devices. This includes mobile phones, BlackBerry devices and 3g cards. The cost of these devices for the period covering 20 February 2010 to 19 February 2011 was £215,600.48.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London underground and (ii) public bus services on Government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on Government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel by  (a) ministerial car,  (b) train,  (c) bus,  (d) commercial aircraft and  (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: Ministers regularly use London underground and public buses on Government business at their own expense. No central record is kept of such travel.
	No DECC Ministers have allocated GCDA ministerial cars. Ministers may use the GCDA pool cars, and have occasionally used these to travel to their constituency, where a business requirement has justified this. Ministers also use taxis and private hire cars for official travel. The details of overseas travel are published quarterly, and can be found at:
	www.decc.gov.uk
	Since May 2010, DECC has spent £132,676 on GCDA ministerial cars, compared with £303,129 which DECC spent on GCDA ministerial cars during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
	All travel is taken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the staff vacancy rate in his Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in his Department's budget for 2011-12.

Gregory Barker: The average monthly staff vacancy rate in DECC during 2010-11 (from April to February) was 6%. During the course of the year, the vacancy rate reduced from almost 10% in April 2010 to below 3% in February 2011. We expect the vacancy rate to stabilise at around 2% in 2011-12.

Energy

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to provide information to the public on  (a) creating low-carbon energy,  (b) matching supply and demand,  (c) securing value for money for consumers and  (d) other major energy challenges over the next decade.

Gregory Barker: Greater transparency is at the heart of our commitment to enable the public to hold political and public bodies to account and deliver better value for money in public spending. DECC aims to ensure that its data are as accessible to the public as possible.
	The Department publishes information through a wide range of avenues including the DECC website and data.gov.uk. Data on energy production including renewables are published monthly on the DECC website, while each quarter fuller analysis of energy production and use is published in 'Energy Trends'. Annually full information is published in the 'Digest of UK Energy Statistics' as well as a more detailed look at energy use in 'Energy Consumption in the UK'. Other important data sets included data on GHG emissions, detailed local level electricity and gas consumption data and work with the Energy Saving Trust to publish data on installation of insulation measures at local authority and parliamentary constituency level.
	A number of recent publications also provide the public with relevant information:
	The DECC Business Plan sets out actions against coalition priorities to 2015 and a number of impact and input indicators which can be used to assess progress.
	The DECC website and the Energy Savings Trust provide consumers with extensive information on how they can generate low-carbon energy (through the domestic feed-in tariffs) and energy saving measures more generally.
	DECC's Annual Energy Statement, consultation for electricity market reform (EMR) and 2050 Pathways Analysis all describe the major energy challenges over the next decade and beyond. The EMR consultation also includes projections for future demand and supply and how the balance could be maintained.
	Affordability is a key concern for DECC. We support the independent regulation of electricity markets through Ofgem-their primary duty is to protect the interests of present and future consumers. The proposals set out in the EMR consultation document were assessed to gauge their likely impact on consumers and that has been published alongside the policy proposals.
	National Grid also publishes data on their website describing in real time how supply and demand is matched:
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Data/Realtime/

Energy Supply

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment has been made of the ability of independent renewable electricity generators to secure a reasonable value for their output following removal of the requirement on suppliers to secure increasing proportions of the power they supply from renewable sources.

Charles Hendry: We published the EMR consultation in December 2010 seeking views on proposals to reform the electricity market to meet our decarbonisation, security of supply and affordability goals. This included a proposal for a feed-in tariff to support low carbon, including renewable generation.
	We are committed to supporting existing investment in renewables, therefore we also consulted on the best means to transition from the current renewables obligation to the new mechanism.
	We will publish final proposals before the summer recess.

Energy: Billing

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects on consumers of provisions in the Energy Bill to increase the information provided on domestic energy bills.

Gregory Barker: The Energy Bill includes proposals to require energy suppliers to inform consumers through their bills about the cheapest available tariff to give customers greater control over their energy costs, (we are also seeking to implement this proposal through a voluntary agreement with energy suppliers).
	We have published an impact assessment which concluded that depending on the level of switching in relation to the cheaper tariff information consumers may benefit in terms of cheaper energy bills. It also estimated that if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached and secondary legislation is required, total costs would be in the range of £0-£43 million with a best estimate of £22 million. This impact assessment is available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
	(with details of the information on bills requirement from page 72).
	If the Government need to use the powers to mandate action by the energy suppliers then a further impact assessment will be required.

Energy: Housing

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on their role in  (a) providing access to the Green Deal and  (b) improving the energy efficiency of private rented homes.

Gregory Barker: On 9 March 2011, the Department agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Government Group to work together to tackle climate change. DECC is currently working with several local authorities to consider the opportunities and barriers to deliver the Green Deal.
	Our discussions with local government, including the Local Government Association, include improving the energy efficiency of the private rented sector.

Energy: International Cooperation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  whether any  (a) special advisers,  (b) parliamentary assistants and  (c) Ministers' spouses or partners took part in the green trade mission to the US;
	(2)  what the  (a) names and  (b) job titles are of the members of the green trade mission to the US;
	(3)  how the members of the green trade mission to the US from private sector companies were selected.

Gregory Barker: The following business representatives took part in the recent UK green trade mission to the US, which I led:
	Emma Howard Boyd, Director, Jupiter Asset Management
	Bill Rumble, Group Commercial Director, Mark Group
	Dennis Hayter, Vice President for Business Development, Intelligent Energy
	Rowan Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Global Analytics at Willis Re (replaced by David Short in North and South Carolina)
	Andy Wood, Chief Executive, Adnams
	Ian Mays, Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Energy Systems.
	No ministerial spouses or partners, special advisers, or parliamentary assistants were part of the delegation.
	Businesses were invited to participate in this visit taking account of assessments by DECC, UKTI and the British embassy network in the United States of their compatibility with the objective of demonstrating the ability of companies to seize the opportunities presented by the global green economy; their interest in the commercial opportunities in the states being visited; and compatibility of schedules.

Exhaust Emissions: Shipping

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has made on raising of international climate finance from the regulation of shipping emissions at the  (a) International Maritime Organisation and  (b) G20.

Gregory Barker: The Government are an active proponent internationally of measures to reduce shipping emissions. The primary aim of such measures would be to reduce emissions, but they could in addition generate revenues which could be used for a variety of purposes, potentially including international climate finance.
	The Secretary of State has made no direct representations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or the G20 (Finance Ministers), as these are for the Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	In the G20, I understand the French presidency have held discussions on international climate finance among Finance Ministers, and Trevor Manuel, the South African National Planning Minister, has presented the findings of the UN Secretary General's High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Finance (AGF) with UK Government support.
	The IMO Secretary General and the Secretary of State spoke in November 2010, given the Secretary of State's role as a member of the AGF. We also understand the Norwegian Government, as co-chair of the AGF, are presenting the findings to the IMO shortly.

Feed-in Tariffs

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many certificates an investor or generator may hold for the purposes of feed-in-tariffs in respect of a site with a unique  (a) property address and  (b) meter point.

Gregory Barker: No certificates are issued under the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. I therefore take the question to refer to meeting the criteria of the definition of a site for accreditation under the FITs scheme.
	A site is defined in the FITs licence conditions as
	"the premises to which are attached one or more Accredited FITs installations or Eligible installations in close geographical proximity to each other, to be determined by: a). the relevant meter point administration number for the electricity supply, b). street address, c). OS grid reference; and any other factors with the Authority (Ofgem) at its discretion views as relevant."
	It is the responsibility of Ofgem as administrators of the scheme to use their discretion in applying the definition of a site when accrediting an installation for the feed-in tariffs (FITs).

Natural Gas: Exploration

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consult the Environment Agency on the potential implications of seismic tremors for onshore drilling for unconventional gases.

Charles Hendry: We have regular contact with both the Health and Safety Executive and the environment agencies on unconventional gas. The implications of seismic tremors for onshore drilling for unconventional gas will form part of this dialogue.

Nuclear Power Stations: Safety

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether defence nuclear activities will be included within the scope of the review into the safety of UK nuclear plants by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Directorate.

Charles Hendry: Following the nuclear incident at Fukushima in Japan, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change asked Dr Mike Weightman, HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, to report on the lessons to be learnt for the UK from the incident, with an interim report requested from Dr Weightman in May 2011 and a final report in September 2011. Dr Weightman has complete independence to determine the scope of his reports and the arrangements for conducting his inquiries for them. However, the Secretary of State's responsibilities only relate to civil nuclear facilities. I understand that Dr Weightman's focus for his interim report will be on any early lessons for existing and prospective UK nuclear power stations. His final report may have lessons that are relevant for nuclear safety at defence related sites.

Office for Renewable Energy Deployment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 107-8W, on departmental manpower, which specific technologies the Office for Renewable Energy Development covers.

Gregory Barker: Renewable energy is defined by the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 as:
	"energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases".
	There are at least 22 technologies that fall within this definition across the electricity, heat and transport sectors.
	The Office for Renewable Energy Deployment's (ORED) purpose is to greatly increase the deployment of these technologies in the UK as cost effectively and sustainably as possible. ORED does this through a framework of financial incentives that provide long-term, comprehensive and targeted support across the range of renewable technologies; and by taking steps to address non-financial barriers that hinder renewables deployment.
	ORED works with others to meet its objectives, both in DECC and across Whitehall-particularly DECC's teams that deal with heat and microgeneration technologies and the Green Deal; with the Department for Transport on renewable transport technologies; and DECC's Science and Innovation Group on renewable technologies which are still at relatively early stages of development and demonstration but which are expected to be important contributors for the pathway to 2050.

Oil

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for future support to the UK oil refining industry.

Charles Hendry: The Government recognise the important role that the UK's refining sector plays in the economic life of the country. The Government seek to ensure that the right conditions exist to attract and retain investment in the UK's refining sector. We work closely with the downstream oil industry and its representatives to understand the impact of policy on the sector and to ensure this understanding is shared across a range of Government Departments.

Renewable Energy

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effects of removing the prohibition on the sale by local authorities of electricity generated from renewable energy.

Gregory Barker: The change has been welcomed by a number of local authorities seeking to take forward renewable energy projects. DECC is working proactively with local authorities and the Local Government Group (LG Group) to enable local authorities to benefit from this new opportunity supported by the renewables incentives framework. For example, a recent DECC-LG Group Memorandum of Understanding(1) acknowledges the pivotal role that local councils have in tackling climate change. We are therefore committed to working with local authorities to reduce emissions on their own estate and operations, in their areas (within their control and influence) and through participating in national carbon reduction initiatives such as the Green Deal, roll-out of renewables, and smart meters.
	(1) http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/local/local.aspx

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the written ministerial statement of 18 March 2011,  Official Report, column 33WS, on feed-in-tariffs (review), what discussions he has had with representatives of the anaerobic digestion sector prior to the publication of his proposed tariff changes.

Gregory Barker: Before the publication of the fast-track consultation on the feed-in tariffs (FITs), discussion were held with the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), the Renewable Energy Association (REA), the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) the National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA). Matters discussed included: (i) whether the current tariff for farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) delivers the expected 8% return on capital and if not, why not; (ii) the capital, operating, fuel and other costs of farm-scale (up to 500 kW) AD plant; and (iii) financial and non-financial barriers to the further deployment of farm-scale AD and how these might be addressed.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of Ofgem's ability to make feed-in tariff payment;
	(2)  what key performance indicators his Department uses to assess Ofgem's ability to make feed-in tariff payments.

Gregory Barker: Feed-in tariffs (FlTs) payments are not made by Ofgem. The obligation is on electricity suppliers to make the FITs payments.

Solar Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1074W, on the solar photovoltaic sector: Brighton, what size of market his Department considers to be relatively small; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: As of 1 April 2011, data from the "FITs Installation Statistical Report" produced by Ofgem:
	https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Default.aspx
	shows 28,617 solar photovoltaic (PV) installations with a total generation capacity of 77.862 MW for Great Britain. Brighton and Hove contributes less than 1% with 81 solar PV installations with total generation capacity of 0.164 MW.

Solar Power

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with the banking industry future funding for solar photovoltaic developers affected by the outcome of the fast-track review of the feed-in tariff scheme.

Gregory Barker: My officials are in regular contact with representatives from the banking sector and solar photovoltaic (PV) developers.

Solar Power: Cornwall

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the effect of the fast-track review of the feed-in tariff scheme on farmers in Cornwall who have signed contracts with solar photovoltaic developers.

Gregory Barker: DECC officials are in regular contact with organisations representing the views of farmers in Cornwall, and will take into account all evidence received through the current public consultation.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many megawatts of solar photovoltaic generating capacity have been installed in Northumberland since the launch of the feed-in tariff scheme.

Gregory Barker: As of 31 December 2010, 173.1 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) had been installed in Northumberland since 1 April 2010, the launch date of the Feed in Tariff (FITs) scheme. An additional 28.7 kW of solar PV capacity was installed between 15 July 2009 (when the FITs scheme was announced) and 1 April 2010.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his Department first announced that air passenger duty would be increased by the rate of inflation each year;
	(2)  how much income from  (a) air passenger duty and  (b) the inclusion of aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme he expects to accrue to the Exchequer in each year to 2015-16;
	(3)  if he will publish the advice he received on the legality of a per plane duty.

Justine Greening: The June 2010 Budget policy costings document:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf
	made clear on page 51 that air passenger duty (APD), along with many other duties, was assumed to increase with RPI.
	The Office of Budget Responsibility now publishes revenue forecasts independently. The OBR's revenue forecasts for all APD and ETS receipts were set out on page 92 of the Budget 2011 document.
	The Government do not routinely publish legal advice to safeguard openness in communications between Ministers arid officials, ensuring access to full and frank advice.

Banks: Incentives

Robert Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of EU proposals for a financial transaction tax.

Mark Hoban: The European Commission issued a communication in October 2010 on taxation of the financial sector. This concluded that financial transactions taxes were best suited to raising revenue at a global level. Further detail was set out in Explanatory Memorandum 15282/10: Taxation of the Financial Sector.
	The Government believe that financial transaction tax could not be viable unless implemented globally. There are many issues that need to be further explored around whether the financial transaction tax model offers a stable and efficient mechanism to raise revenue.

Business

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely annual dead-weight cost to the public purse of the exemption from national insurance for new businesses setting up outside the South East.

David Gauke: The regional national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday scheme is designed to support new businesses in their first year and reduce the cost of hiring staff for new businesses.
	The Budget costing is an estimate of the NICs forgone from the number of qualifying new businesses we should normally see setting up. This did not account for any additional start-up activity or any wider macro-economic benefits from the policy.
	The Government do not consider the support of these businesses dead-weight costs since they provide a benefit to new businesses, increasing incentives to take on employees and improving the likelihood of business survival in the potentially vulnerable early stages.
	Further information on the assumptions and methodologies underlying the costing are available at:
	(page 21)
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf

Child Benefit

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the dead-weight cost to the public purse of operating the child benefit system in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs publishes detailed information about the costs associated with the administration of child benefit in its annual accounts. The most recently published information can be found in the 2009-10 accounts, trust statement and the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General published together at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0910.pdf

Child Tax Credit

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of households in  (a) Glasgow North East constituency,  (b) Glasgow,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Great Britain in which the childcare element of working tax credit payable will reduce in each of the next four financial years; and if he will estimate the average annual change in income attributable to such a reduction in each case;
	(2)  if he will estimate the likely annual loss of income to affected households attributable to the reduction in the childcare element of working tax credit in  (a) Glasgow North East constituency,  (b) Glasgow,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Great Britain for individuals earning (i) up to £16,000, (ii) between £16,000 and £24,000, (iii) between £24,000 and £30,000, (iv) between £30,000 and £40,000, (v) between £40,000 and £50,000 and (vi) £50,000 and above in each of the next four financial years.

David Gauke: The reduction of child care support to 70% from 80% is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. However, to ensure support is better targeted at low-income families with children, some of the savings from measures announced at the spending review have been recycled into significant above indexation increases to the child tax credit in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Treasury analysis shows that modelled tax and benefit reforms announced since Budget 2010 have a small reduction in child poverty in 2011-12 and 2012-13; however given the uncertainty around these types of estimates, this change may not be statistically significant.
	There are interactions between the measures so estimating the impact of just one measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on households.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
	This distributional analysis is not available at the geographical breakdowns requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Corporation Tax

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the the proportion of businesses trading in the UK and subject to corporation tax who will pay tax in each of the next four financial years.

David Gauke: HMRC does not forecast the proportion of UK businesses that will pay tax in the next four financial years. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publish an onshore CT forecast to which a link is provided at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook-march.html
	This forecast includes the aggregate effect of tax deductions which may result in some businesses having no taxable profits.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London Underground and (ii) public bus services on government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many of his ministerial team have been issued with  (a) an Oyster card and  (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on government business;
	(3)  on what date  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010;
	(4)  how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel by  (a) ministerial car,  (b) train,  (c) bus,  (d) commercial aircraft and  (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Justine Greening: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All travel undertaken by Treasury Ministers is carried out in line with the "Ministerial Code", in all cases by the most efficient and cost-effective means possible.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the first compensation payments to be made to Equitable Life policyholders.

Mark Hoban: The Government's ambition is to start making payments in the middle of this year.

Financial Institutions

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to sell the Government's stake in  (a) Northern Rock,  (b) Bradford and Bingley,  (c) RBS and  (d) Lloyds TSB Bank.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in Bradford & Bingley plc; Northern Rock Asset Management plc; Northern Rock plc; Lloyds Banking Group; and the Royal Bank of Scotland on an arm's length and commercial basis.
	In October 2010 UKFI integrated Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc and Bradford & Bingley plc under a single holding company UK Asset Resolutions (UKAR) which is committed to an orderly wind down of both banks' closed mortgage books.
	In relation to Northern Rock plc; Lloyds Banking Group; and the Royal Bank of Scotland UKFI's remit is to devise and execute a strategy for disposing of the Government's investments in an orderly and active way, in line with its overarching objective to create and protect value for the taxpayer as shareholder.
	Because any decision needs to be taken in the context of changing economic and market conditions, UKFI do not think that it is possible or desirable to state hard goals such as time that would drive the sale of the Government's shareholdings. But circumstances under which UKFI are likely to be able to sell shares are likely to be those in which the economy-and investor confidence-is recovering and in which bank share prices are firm.

Financial Institutions

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate UK Financial Investments Ltd has made of the monetary value of each of the financial institutions in which it has a stake.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in Bradford and Bingley plc; Northern Rock Asset Management plc; Northern Rock plc; Lloyds Banking Group; and the Royal Bank of Scotland on an arm's length and commercial basis.
	UKFI set out a summary of investee banks' performance and key financials in their annual report.

Financial Institutions: Public Sector Debt

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on using proceeds from any future sale of the stake UK Financial Investments Ltd holds in UK financial institutions for payment of the national debt.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments' (UKFI) objective is to dispose of the Government's investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
	Because any decision needs to be taken in the context of changing economic and market conditions, UKFI does not think it is possible to or desirable to state hard goals such as price or time that would determine when the Government's interests will be sold.

Financial Services

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 3.5 of Project Merlin-Banks' Statement, whether a banking institution may be released from its obligations under the agreement if it is deemed necessary by its board.

Mark Hoban: As a result of the Government's discussions, the four largest UK banks have committed that the total remuneration paid in 2010 will be lower than it was in 2009 and lower than it would have been otherwise. The Remuneration Committee chair of each bank will write to the FSA to confirm that this commitment has been met.

Financial Services: EU Law

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capital requirement rules within the Basel III accord in respect of financial institutions based in the UK.

Mark Hoban: The Basel 3 agreement will strengthen the safety of the financial sector by significantly increasing the amount capital banks are required to hold against their risk weighted assets and by introducing a leverage ratio to prevent a dangerous build up of leverage emerging in the financial system. The Basel package represents a credible and crucial set of reforms that will strengthen the resilience of the banking system to the long-run benefit of the economy.
	Moreover, in order to protect the economic recovery the Basel committee has agreed an extended transition period; with most elements of the package phased in gradually from 2013 to 2019.
	The UK supports a full and faithful implementation of the Basel 3 agreement in the EU through the Capital Requirements Directive.

Fly-tipping

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to accrue to the Exchequer from landfill tax receipts arising from disposal in landfill of waste previously fly-tipped on  (a) private and  (b) public land in the financial year 2010-11.

Justine Greening: The data collected on fly-tipping of waste does not include the level of detail necessary to undertake this calculation.

Gift Aid

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will consider the merits of extending the criteria for gift aid eligibility to include junior subscriptions to community amateur sports clubs;
	(2)  what representations he has received on extending the eligibility criteria for gift aid to include junior subscriptions to community amateur sports clubs.

Justine Greening: Last year the Gift Aid Forum, established by HM Treasury recommended a number of ways to improve the Gift Aid system but made no proposals in respect of junior membership subscriptions to community amateur sports clubs. This Government have not received any representations on extending Gift Aid to junior subscriptions.
	Budget 2011 announced a number of improvements to Gift Aid which will benefit community amateur sports clubs as well as charities. The new Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme will allow clubs and charities to claim Gift Aid-style payments on up to £5,000 of small donations without needing to obtain a Gift Aid declaration from donors. Together with the introduction of online Gift Aid claims, this means that from 2013 the income of many community amateur sports clubs will increase at the same time as their administrative burdens are reduced.
	We continue to keep all policy issues under review.

ISA: Children

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the content of  (a) the website taxfreejuniorisa.co.uk and  (b) commercial websites which present information as if it were the policy of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government have been made aware of the existence of www.taxfreejuniorisa.co.uk, but has not received any representations on its content. The website does not purport to be a Government website.
	The Treasury has no record of receiving any recent representations on other commercial websites purporting to present information as if it were the policy of the Department.

Northern Rock

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future mutual status of Northern Rock.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI) manages the Government's investments in financial institutions on an arm's length and commercial basis. The development and execution of strategies for disposing of the Government's shareholding in Northern Rock is part of UKFI's remit.
	UKFI are looking at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and are exploring options based on maximising value for the taxpayer, maintaining financial stability and paying due regard to promoting competition. All exit strategies, including mutualisation, for Northern Rock plc will be considered with the final decision on the sale of Northern Rock made by the Chancellor.

Oil and Gas Industry

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what meetings on what dates he had with representatives of the oil and gas industry in the six months prior to 23 March 2011; and who attended each such meeting;
	(2)  what discussions, on what dates, he had with representatives of the oil and gas industry on the supplementary charge on the industry prior to making his Budget Statement on 23 March 2011; who attended each such meeting; and at which of these meetings the effects of the price of oil falling below $75 a barrel was discussed.

Justine Greening: A list of Treasury Ministers' meetings with outside interest groups is published quarterly on the Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ministerial_meetings.htm
	Treasury Ministers and officials meet representatives from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Oil and Gas Industry

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the likely effects on future trends in production and investment in the oil and gas industry of the supplementary charge on the industry announced in his Budget Statement.

Justine Greening: As set out in Budget documentation, the Government do not expect a significant impact on investment or production in the forecast period as a consequence of this measure.
	Recognising the importance of continued investment in the North sea, the Government will consider, with the industry, the case for introducing a new category of field that would qualify for field allowance should there be cases where the tax change has made previously new fields un-commercial.

Oil: Prices

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for the reduction in the supplementary charge on the oil and gas industry should the oil price fall below the level of $75 per barrel specified in his Budget Statement.

Justine Greening: If the oil price falls below the trigger on a sustained basis, the Government will reduce the supplementary charge back towards 20% on a staged and affordable basis while prices remain low. The Government believe that a trigger price of $75 per barrel would be appropriate, but will set a final level and mechanism after seeking the views of oil and gas companies and motoring groups.

Public Finance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reductions in public expenditure required to reduce the budget deficit by half over four years.

Justine Greening: The Office of Budget Responsibility's June 2010 pre-Budget forecast set out an independent forecast for public spending and the deficit consistent with the previous Government's plans. This forecast is available at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/d/pre_budget_forecast_140610.pdf

Solvency II Process

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many officials  (a) in his Department and  (b) of the Financial Services Authority are engaged in policy development in respect of the Solvency II proposals;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of the size of  (a) the UK annuity market and  (b) similar product markets in each other EU member state;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the Solvency II approach to capital for insurers;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer prices of implementation of the capital requirements under consideration in the Solvency II process;
	(5)  whether the decisions on Solvency II proposals in the Council of Ministers will be subject to  (a) unanimous consent of member states,  (b) agreement via qualified majority voting or  (c) another form of decision-making; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: HM Treasury and its associated public bodies have a number of staff involved in working across government and with other partners on Solvency II as part of their wider roles.
	The Treasury is working closely with the FSA and with UK industry on assessing the scale of, and implications for, the annuities market. The Association of British Insurers estimate, that in 2009 (the last date available) the total premium written for annuity was £10.8 billion, and that the total amount of annuity liability is around £130 billion. Finance Ministries across Europe take a similar approach with respect to the products offered by their industries. Government do not engage in the public benchmarking of the UK annuity market against other European markets.
	The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with European counterparts on a range of issues, including the new approach to capital for insurers under Solvency II, and the treatment of long-term products such as annuities.
	The potential effect on consumer prices of implementation of the Solvency II capital requirements cannot be sensibly estimated yet as the rules are still not finalised. The Government continue to work closely with the Financial Services Authority and with industry to ensure a full understanding of the potential effect on consumer prices.
	The Solvency II directive has already been adopted by the Council of Ministers. The directive is being amended through Omnibus II, to bring it into line with the decision-making process agreed in the Lisbon treaty. Omnibus II will be subject to agreement via the qualified majority decision process, as well as agreement with the European Parliament. When Omnibus II comes into force, the Delegated Acts-which will set out the technical details and rules of Solvency II-will then be subject to the qualified majority decision process in the Council of Ministers.

Statoil

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations  (a) he,  (b) Ministers and  (c) officials in his Department received from Statoil or its representatives or agents prior to the 2011 Budget.

Justine Greening: No budget representations were received from Statoil or their agents/representatives prior to the 2011 Budget.

Tax Evasion

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage Crown Dependencies to share more information in respect of potential tax evasion; and what effects he expects such steps to have on the amount of unpaid tax which is recovered.

Mark Hoban: The Crown Dependencies exchange information on request under Tax Information Exchange Agreements and similar arrangements. In addition the Isle of Man and Guernsey will have moved to automatic exchange of information under the EU Savings Directive framework by 1 July 2011. This will help HM Revenue and Customs to ensure the correct tax is paid by UK tax residents with savings income arising in those jurisdictions. We encourage Jersey to move to automatic exchange of information on savings income as soon as possible.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Animal Welfare

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Belfast East of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 566W, on animal welfare, by what date he expects to be able to determine his policy on the implementation of the 7th amendment to Council Directive 76/768/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1223/200 on the testing of cosmetics on animals in 2013.

Edward Davey: This will depend entirely on the date of publication of the European Commission impact assessment on the effects of the ban.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new apprenticeship places will be available as a result of announcements in the 2011 Budget in  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13,  (c) 2013-14 and  (d) 2014-15.

John Hayes: holding answer 1 April 2011
	 In the Budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the adult apprenticeships programme that we published in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth"(1) in November 2010.
	The apprenticeships programme is demand led, which means that we do not plan places or set targets. In "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth", we provided illustrative learner forecasts to show the capacity for training that Government investment can support: 437,000 in 2011/12 AY and 497,000 in 2012/13 AY. These will be updated to include the additional places announced in the Budget. We will publish a revised forecast for academic year 2011/12 and a forecast for 2012/13 later this year.
	(1) Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts his Department plans to fund in  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13,  (c) 2013-14 and  (d) 2014-15.

John Hayes: holding answer 1 April 2011
	 In the Budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the adult apprenticeships programme that we published in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth"(1) in November 2010. The Department for Education's plans for the apprenticeship programme for those aged 16-18 years are outlined in the 16-19 Funding Statement(2)( )published by the Young People's Learning Agency in December 2010.
	The apprenticeships programme is demand led, which means that we do not plan places or set targets. In "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth", we provided illustrative learner forecasts to show the capacity for training that Government investment can support: 437,000 in 2011/12 AY and 497,00 in 2012/13 AY. These will be updated to include the additional places announced in the Budget. We will publish a revised forecast for academic year 2011/12 and a forecast for 2012/13 later this year.
	(1 )Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf
	(2) 16-18 Funding Statement published by the YPLA
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/YPLA/16-19_Funding_Statement.pdf

Apprentices

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the  (a) allocation and  (b) funding of the additional apprenticeships announced in the 2011 Budget in each region.

John Hayes: In the Budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the adult apprenticeships programme that we published in 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth'(1) in November 2010.
	The apprenticeship places announced in the Budget are in addition to the minimum expectation of apprenticeships delivery set out in the Skills Funding Agency's final funding allocations issued to providers on 31 March 2011. I have asked the Skills Funding Agency to propose how the additional funding can best be allocated to colleges and training providers to support delivery of these additional apprenticeships. Take-up by region follows employer demand. For this reason, we are not able to provide estimates of the geographical distribution of apprenticeship places or funding as these would be either too broad to be of use or would be potentially misleading.
	(1) Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf

Apprentices: Cars

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had recent discussions with private sector training colleges on provision of car mechanic apprenticeships in  (a) the west midlands and  (b) nationally.

John Hayes: I meet with the Association of Learning Providers on a quarterly basis, and did so most recently in January this year. I also hold discussions on a wide variety of subjects related to apprenticeships with individual colleges and training providers in arranged visits and meetings. However, I do not recall any discussions specific to private sector training providers and provision of car mechanic apprenticeships either in the west midlands or nationally.

Apprentices: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for how many apprenticeship places he plans to allocate funding in 2012-13; what recent discussions he has had on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: In the budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the Adult Apprenticeships programme that we published in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth"(1) in November 2010. The Department for Education's plans for the Apprenticeship programme for those aged 16 to 18 years are outlined in the 16-19 Funding Statement published by the Young People's Learning Agency in December 2010(2).
	From the 2011/12 academic year (AY) colleges and training organisations will have a single adult skills budget, with earmarked delivery for adult apprenticeships so that they can use the increased freedoms and flexibilities that we have given them to respond to and be accountable to the needs of learner, employers and communities. This means that while we do not plan apprenticeship places or set targets, we have provided illustrative learner forecasts to show the capacity for adult training that Government investment can support.
	Using the funds committed in the spending review alone, as set out with illustrative forecasts in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth", we anticipate that Government funding will support 437,068 adult apprenticeships in the 2011/12 AY. For those aged 16 to 18 years old, we estimate we will fund 230,000 in the 2011/12 AY. We will publish a revised forecast for academic year 2011/12 and a forecast for 2012/13 later this year.
	( 1) Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf
	( 2) 16-19 Funding Statement published by the YPLA
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/YPLA/16-19_Funding_Statement.pdf

Apprentices: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department plans to contribute to funding the apprenticeship places announced in the 2011 Budget; and from which of his Department's budgets such funding will be drawn.

John Hayes: In the Budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the adult apprenticeships programme that we published in 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth'(1) in November 2010. The funding is not drawn from elsewhere within the Department's budgets; it is in addition to BIS' allocation announced in the spending review in the autumn.
	(1) Investing in Skills (or Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf

Apprentices: North West

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts there were for  (a) men and  (b) women in (i) the north west, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) Wirral and (iv) Wirral South constituency in (A) 2007-08, (B) 2008-09 and (C) 2009-10.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts by gender for the north west region, Wirral local education authority and Wirral South parliamentary constituency for 2007/08 to 2009/10. We only hold information at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography, therefore data for Merseyside are not presented.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by gender in the north west region, Wirral local authority and Wirral South constituency, 2007/08 to 2009/10 
			   2007/08  2008/09  2009/10 
			  Female
			 North West 17,240 18,810 24,790 
			 Wirral 1,000 940 1,230 
			 Wirral South 190 180 190 
			 
			  Male
			 North West 18,240 17,720 22,490 
			 Wirral 950 870 990 
			 Wirral South 180 160 160 
			 
			  Total
			 North West 35,480 36,530 47,280 
			 Wirral 1,950 1,810 2,210 
			 Wirral South 370 330 350 
			  Notes:  1. All Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner.  Source:  Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 March:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Both the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and the Department for Education are responsible for the promotion of equality of access to apprenticeships. The National Apprenticeships Service (NAS), as the body responsible for promoting apprenticeships to employers and to potential apprentices, manages its systems to ensure equal access to information about the programme and to apprenticeship vacancies. A priority for NAS is to address stereotyping and under-representation across apprenticeships including gender, race and disability.

Apprentices: Poole

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people in Poole constituency  (a) started and  (b) completed an apprenticeship in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.

John Hayes: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts and framework achievements in Poole parliamentary constituency from 2008-09 to 2009-10.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship framework starts and achievements, 2008-09 to 2009-10 
			   Poole parliamentary constituency 
			   Starts  Achievements 
			 2008-09 370 230 
			 2009-10 480 280 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon the home postcode of the learner.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 March 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices: Wolverhampton

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much he has allocated for level 2 apprenticeships in Wolverhampton North East constituency in 2011-12.

John Hayes: Apprenticeships is a demand-led programme for young people and adults. Government fund apprenticeship training, in full for 16 to 19-year-olds and in part for adults; but relies on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities, in the context of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system. Therefore, Government do not plan apprenticeship places but provide funding and forecast the number of places that may be afforded as a result.
	Budget 2011 announced a package of measures for apprenticeships worth £180 million. Taken together with the funding announced at the spending review, this means the Government will fund at least 250,000 more adult apprentices over the next four years compared to the previous Government's plans.

Bankruptcy

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of raising the bankruptcy level under section 267(4) of the Insolvency Act 1986 to prevent bankruptcy petitions being made on very low level debts.

Mark Prisk: My officials in the Insolvency Service have analysed the likely effect of an increase to the bankruptcy level and undertook some targeted consultation with interested parties last year. About 80% of bankruptcies are as a result of the bankrupt's own petition where no limit applies. If the limit was increased to £1,750 (which would have been approximately in line with inflationary increases since the limit was last set), there would be expected to be about 3% fewer bankruptcy orders made on a creditor's petition. Views were invited on the whole personal insolvency regime in our consultation "Managing Borrowing and Dealing with Debt". Officials are carefully analysing the responses and will be reporting to me in due course.

Business: Maidstone

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises located in Maidstone and the Weald constituency on their access to credit.

Mark Prisk: Both the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with national business representative bodies-such as the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Federation of Private Businesses, the Institute of Directors, and the Confederation of British Industry. At these meetings, a range of matters are discussed, which include access to finance for small businesses.
	In addition, the Small Business Economic Forum, chaired by me, meets quarterly. This forum includes representatives from a number of small business representative bodies. The most recent meeting was held on 4 April, and the agenda included items on the progress being made by the British Bankers Association in implementing their Business Finance Taskforce proposals, and exporting.
	These representations have a national focus, rather than focusing on the Maidstone and the Weald specifically. However, BIS data and other research indicate that access to finance is an issue that affects small businesses all across the UK to a broadly equal extent.

Climate Change

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has asked the National Physical Laboratory to take steps to support  (a) the assessment of low carbon technology,  (b) carbon trading and  (c) the validation of climate change measurement.

David Willetts: As part of the National Measurement System Programmes, funded through the National Measurement Office (an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)), the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is carrying out work related to both the assessment of low carbon technology and the validation of climate change measurement. Some of this work is also in receipt of co-funding from the European Metrology Research Programme. BIS has not to date requested NPL to undertake work to support carbon trading.

Consumers: Debts

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of introducing Simplified Individual Voluntary Arrangements for simple consumer debt cases.

Edward Davey: Our recent call for evidence, "Managing Borrowing and Dealing with Debt", sought views on the personal insolvency framework. Officials are carefully analysing the responses and will be reporting to me in due course. I will consider whether changes need to be made to consumer insolvency procedures in the light of the responses received.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for which services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies, interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: This Department does not hold information centrally on the number of interpreters employed or subcontracted for each non-English language. This also applies to this Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). To provide this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	This Department has spent the following amounts on interpreters/translation services.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2009-10 195,000 
			 2010-11 (1)260,000 
			 (1 )Approximately.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in his Department were in the Civil Service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Edward Davey: As at 31 March 2011, the Department has 30 people in its Career Centre of which 18 people have been there for more than six months.

Easter

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring into force the provision of the Easter Act 1928 fixing the date of Easter.

Edward Davey: There are no current plans to implement the Easter Act 1928. This Act remains on the statute book, however, the Act requires that before a draft order is laid before Parliament
	"regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body".
	At this time, the churches have not all expressed a desire or willingness to move to a fixed Easter.

Employment Agencies: Regulation

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department takes to ensure that individuals who are proposed for vacancies by employment agencies or businesses are made aware of their rights to refuse such vacancies under the provisions of regulations 18 and 19 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovations and Skills (BIS) ensures agency workers are aware of their rights under the provisions of the conduct regulations by publishing advice on the Direct.gov and Business Link websites, by publicising the pay and work rights helpline number (0800 917 2368) and by producing leaflets for workers which are handed out at job fares and universities.
	BIS are currently working with the TUC and have produced an awareness raising video, which will be hosted on the TUC website, and distributed to union representatives as part of a TUC training package.

Employment: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the number of  (a) men and  (b) women aged 16 to 24 who are seeking (i) work and (ii) training in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: My right hon. Friend has held no discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the numbers of 16-24 year olds seeking work or training in the West Midlands. However, we recognise that this is an important issue both in the West Midlands and nationally.
	Adults aged 19 and over are currently entitled to fee remission to support them to attain basic literacy and numeracy and the equivalent of five good GCSEs (Level 2); adults aged 19 up to 25 are currently entitled to fee remission to support them to attain the equivalent of 2 A-Levels (Level 3).
	From 2011/12 the L2 entitlement will also include support for those who need help to make the step up from basic skills.
	We are also helping young people improve their skills and get into work through pre-employment training and in the Budget, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced funding for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the lifetime of this Parliament.

English for Speakers of Other Languages: Finance

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what work his Department has undertaken on the equality impact assessment on the changes to the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages announced in November 2010.

John Hayes: This Department published an Equality Impact Assessment published alongside "Skills for Sustainable Growth" (November 2010) which found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes to skills funding may affect ESOL learners is currently being carried out by this Department.

EU External Trade: India

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what objectives his Department has set for the outcome of negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.

Edward Davey: The UK wants to agree an ambitious EU-India Free Trade Agreement which achieves maximum liberalisation across all sectors, including meaningful liberalisation in the services sector, and ensures that intellectual property (data exclusivity) provisions do not impact negatively on access to medicines for the poorest.

Executives: Females

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make a comparative assessment on the relative performance of private sector companies which have  (a) women and  (b) no women on their board; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: We welcome the noble Member Lord Davies' review into women on boards and encourage companies to implement his business-led strategy. A growing body of evidence now exists to show that well balanced boards are better boards, benefiting from fresh perspectives, talent, new ideas and broader experience which lead to better decision making. In addition, diverse organisations reflect their customers better, understand them better and offer better products and services as a result.
	We remain committed to seeing more women reaching the boardrooms of UK plc and are working with stakeholders, including leading business representative organisations, and academia to monitor progress.

Exports

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to  (a) increase British exports and  (b) reduce the UK's trade in goods deficit.

Mark Prisk: UK trade has increased by 55% in real terms between 1998 and 2008. However the UK's relative share of world trade has declined over the same period from 5.7% in 1998 to 3.9% in 2008.
	Our recent Trade and Investment White Paper, published in February 2011, set out our strategy to improve the UK's trade performance. The strategy has already begun to be implemented and work will continue over the coming months and years.
	The White Paper announced that UK Trade and Investment's new strategy will focus on encouraging more innovative and high growth of small and medium businesses (SMEs) to export and focus on high growth and emerging markets. To support SMEs in particular, the White Paper also announced an expanded and better co-ordinated package of trade finance products on a pilot scheme basis which will be launched by April 2011.
	We will continue to boost open trade, which will enable UK businesses to export more easily, through the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round, completion of bilateral trade agreements and strengthening of the Single Market Act.
	My noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment chairs the Economic Affairs Cabinet Sub Committee on Trade and Investment. This Committee will drive the implementation of the strategy, using its regular meetings to monitor progress and shape the emerging policies.

Exports: Government Assistance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much financial support UKTI provided to  (a) agricultural companies,  (b) manufacturing,  (c) universities and educational institutions,  (d) financial services companies and  (e) professional services companies in each region in 2011-12; and how much such support he expects to be provided in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Mark Prisk: All UK businesses, irrespective of sector or region, can access UKTI services. UKTI, therefore, does not plan or record expenditure at sector or regional level.
	To provide the information at sectoral or regional level would require gathering and collating the information and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Further Education: Bureaucracy

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to reduce administrative burdens for further education colleges.

John Hayes: We are committed to reducing burdens and bureaucracy on colleges, so that they can better meet the needs of their communities. This is set out in detail in our strategy documents "Skills for Sustainable Growth" and "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth".
	We have removed centrally imposed targets, which enables colleges to determine the learner offer that best meets the needs of learners and employers. We are simplifying the public funding system with a single adult budget. In addition, the Education Bill currently going through the House aims to remove a raft of regulations that will further free colleges to deliver for their local customers-delivering value for money and serving community needs.

Higher Education Funding Council

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had with external organisations on the role of the Higher Education Funding Council in England in each month since 1 January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Departmental Ministers have frequent meetings with arms-length bodies and other organisations about higher education, involving regular discussion about HEFCE and its functions.

Higher Education: Admissions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of students from  (a) sixth form and  (b) further education colleges entered university in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.

John Hayes: The last available estimate shows that 63% of students aged 17 (who attempted at least one GCE/VCE A level or VCE Double Award level in 2005/06) from further education colleges (including sixth form colleges) progressed to higher education by age 19 in 2007/08. The Department has not yet produced data which show sixth form colleges separately from other further education colleges. Data for the 2008/09 academic year will be available in the summer.
	Higher education progression rates for sixth form colleges and further education colleges were first published in a joint report by the Sutton Trust and this Department in July 2009 (page 14):
	http://www.suttontrust.com/research/applications-offers-and-admissions-to-research-led-universities/

Higher Education: Admissions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the capacity of the director of fair access to  (a) fulfil his statutory duty to protect the academic freedom of higher education institutions and  (b) adhere to his Department's guidance that the director should ensure that each such institution is making sustained progress towards a more balanced and representative student body.

David Willetts: We have every confidence in the director of fair access to fulfil his duties.

Higher Education: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much capital funding for teaching and research his Department allocated to each university in each of the last five years; how much it plans to allocate in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 29 March 2011
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England announced its capital allocations for 2011/12 to 2014/15 on 17 March 2011 and they were published on its website. These include indicative allocations for teaching capital for 2012/13 and research capital for the four years 2011/12 to 2014/15, with funding for 2012/13 to 2014/15 being indicative:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2011/grant1112/capital.htm
	Funding for future years is not yet confirmed.
	Capital allocations for previous years are available at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2008/08_04/
	for the years 2008 to 2011, and at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_08/
	for the years 2006 to 2008.
	I will place copies of these in the Libraries of the House.

Higher Education: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he has had with external bodies to discuss allocation of the higher education budget in each month since 1 January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The majority of my meetings with external bodies in higher education include a discussion of funding issues. However, individual allocations to institutions are a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Ministers play no part in that process.

Higher Education: Forensic Science

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students in further and higher education are studying courses in forensic science in 2010-11.

David Willetts: In the 2009/10 academic year, the latest year for which we have complete data, 20 students were enrolled at English further education colleges on Government-funded further education courses in forensic science.
	The latest available figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show in the 2009/10 academic year there were 5,640 enrolments on forensic science higher education courses at English higher education institutions. Figures for 2010/11 will be available in January 2012.

Horticulture: Qualifications

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) qualifications and  (b) apprenticeships available in ornamental horticulture; and whether it has made an assessment of the change in the number of such (i) qualifications and (ii) apprenticeships in the last 10 years.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of enrolments in the Horticulture and Forestry Sector Subject Area for 2005/06, the earliest year for which we have comparable data, to 2009/10 the latest year for which we have full year data (Near-Final).
	
		
			  Table 1: Further education and skills (excluding apprenticeships) enrolments on the Horticulture and Forestry Sector Subject Area, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			   Total 
			 2005/06 41,990 
			 2006/07 35,770 
			 2007/08 35,770 
			 2008/09(1) 37,600 
			 2009/10(1) 38,480 
			 (1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years as the introduction of demand led funding has changed how data are collected and how funded learners are defined from 2008/09 onwards. More information on demand led funding Is available at: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Information in this table is based on all Government funded learners. 3. This data includes FE, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Table 2 shows apprenticeship starts on Amenity Horticulture, Horticulture and Production Horticulture frameworks from 2002/03 the earliest year for which comparable data is available to 2009/10, the latest year for which full year data are available.
	
		
			  Table 2: Apprenticeship starts on  Amenity Horticulture, Horticulture and Production H orticulture frameworks, 2002/03 to 2009/10 
			   Amenity  H orticulture  Horticulture  Production  H orticulture 
			 2002/03 770 - - 
			 2003/04 930 - - 
			 2004/05 1,050 - 30 
			 2005/06 1,050 - 10 
			 2006/07 980 - 20 
			 2007/08 1,110 - 10 
			 2008/09 1,250 - 20 
			 2009/10 70 1,440 - 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Information in this table is based on all Government funded Apprenticeships.  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Horticulture: Qualifications

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the level of skills deficit in the  (a) gardening industry and  (b) ornamental horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for the land-based and environmental industries. Lantra works with employers to identify skills needs and seeks to improve the match between the supply and demand for technical skills. A skills assessment of the horticulture and landscaping industry is available on the Lantra website at:
	www.lantra.co.uk

Innovation: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how the funding allocated by his Department to the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre will be distributed between the constituent organisations.

David Willetts: Discussions are currently underway between the Technology Strategy Board and the parties that will form the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre to set the framework for building an integrated business plan that will define funding requirements. This will allow the Technology Strategy Board to finalise the overall funding the centre will receive and then how much funding each individual party will receive.

Innovation: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department provided to each of the partners in the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) have not received any direct funding from the Department over the last five years.
	The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has received approximately £26.5 million from my Department. This includes £12 million for the construction and operation of a large-capacity Industrial Biotechnology Demonstration Facility; approximately £2.5 million from the Tees Valley Industrial Programme; and £12 million for Printable Electronics Technology Centre.
	The Department has also provided £12 million of funding for the National Composite Centre (NCC), which is due to open in the autumn, and £19 million in to the universities of Sheffield and Manchester for the establishment and operation of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC).
	Departmental funding, where identified, was provided over the period 2009/10 to 2010/11, and does not include funding from the Regional Development Agencies, the Technology Strategy Board, the Research Councils, or the Devolved Administrations, where relevant.

Insolvency

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the merits of introducing a moratorium from creditor action for financially distressed individuals to increase the likelihood that they are able to enter an appropriate insolvency solution.

Edward Davey: This was one area covered by our recent call for evidence, "Managing Borrowing and Dealing with Debt". Officials are carefully analysing the responses at present and will be reporting to me in due course. I will then inform the House of our proposals on how to deal with all the issues covered in that document.

Local Government Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the effects of reductions in funding for local authorities on the level of private sector contracts with the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business has had no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on this specific issue.
	Last month the Government issued a Plan for Growth to put the UK on a path to sustainable long-term economic growth and which set out a number of specific measures to benefit the construction sector.

Meetings

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with their counterparts in  (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government and  (b) HM Treasury since his appointment.

Edward Davey: Ministers in this Department have had 23 meetings with Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government and 31 with Ministers in HM Treasury.

New Businesses: Kent

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of his Department's provision of support for business start-ups in Kent.

Mark Prisk: The Government's plans for modernising the provision of publicly funded support, information and advice for business were set out in the "Bigger, Better Business" pamphlet published on 5 January 2011, which can be found on the BIS website at
	www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/b/11-515-bigger-better-business-helping-small-firms
	Henceforth, the majority of publicly funded support for people wanting to start-up will be delivered online through a dedicated start-up hub within the national Business Link website. There will also be a new national contact centre for those who cannot access the information they need on the website.
	The Government are also establishing local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) that will develop links to existing private sector provision for start-up support and encourage their use. The new LEP for Kent, Greater Essex and East Sussex, will involve local business and civic leaders working together to drive economic growth and create new jobs in their communities.

New Businesses: Kent

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Kent.

Mark Prisk: Business support is currently delivered via the regional development agencies through the Business Link regional advisory service and
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	The Government recently announced reforms to the way information, guidance and advice to businesses is provided, with more focus on improving small business performance and growth, and a greater emphasis on further and better private sector provision. The "Bigger, Better Business" pamphlet sets out the plans in detail. It can be found on the BIS website at
	www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/b/11-515-bigger-better-business-helping-small-firms
	The Government's plans include: offering online business information and tools more closely tailored to the individual needs of businesses, through improvements to the www.businesslink.gov.uk website; encouraging the development of business mentoring through business mentoring providers and the British Banking Association; and backing potential high growth SMEs through Business Coaching for Growth to optimise their development.
	The Government are also establishing local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) that will develop links to existing private sector provision for start-up support and encourage their use. The new LEP for Kent, Greater Essex and East Sussex, will involve local business and civic leaders working together to drive economic growth and create new jobs in their communities.
	In the Budget it was also announced that 21 enterprise zones will be created that will be sited within LEP areas. The first 11 have been allocated but the Kent, Greater Essex and East Sussex LEP will be able to bid for an enterprise zone to be located within their LEP area in the second phase.

New College Redditch: Apprentices

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the apprenticeships announced in the 2011 Budget will be allocated to New College in Redditch.

John Hayes: In the Budget we announced an additional £180 million package for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeship places over the spending review period. This is on top of the plans for growth in the adult apprenticeships programme that we published in 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth'(1) in November 2010.
	In support of the coalition Government's principle of greater freedom, Skills for Sustainable Growth(2) and 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth' set out the abolition of central targets and increased freedom and flexibility for further education colleges and training organisations to respond effectively to the needs of employers, learners and their communities. It is for individual colleges and training organisations, working directly with their local partners, to determine the offer that best meets the needs of their communities. The apprenticeship places announced in the Budget are in addition to the minimum expectation of apprenticeships delivery set out in the Skills Funding Agency's final funding allocations issued to providers on 31 March 2011. I have asked the Skills Funding Agency to propose how the additional funding can best be allocated to colleges and training providers to support delivery of these additional places.
	(1) Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf
	(2) Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2010/Nov/skills-for-sustainable-growth

Novartis

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether  (a) he or  (b) Ministers in his Department met representatives of Novartis in the period 12 May 2010 to 16 March 2011.

Edward Davey: holding answer 31 March 2011
	 The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr Willetts) had a telephone conference meeting with Novartis on 15 March 2011.

Office for Fair Access

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations his Department received on the role and powers of the Office for Fair Access in each month since 1 January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Our records show that the Department has received the following numbers of parliamentary questions and general correspondence that include a reference to the Director of Fair Access or the Office for Fair Access.
	
		
			   January  February  March 
			 Parliamentary questions 4 15 4 
			 Correspondence 2 0 6

Overseas Students: Loans

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1180W, on overseas students: loans, how much has been written off as bad debt from EEA students in arrears; what the monetary value of pending payments is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people from  (a) EEA countries, Switzerland and Turkey and  (b) the UK have ceased making scheduled repayments against outstanding student loans after being declared bankrupt in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) does not write off any loans as bad debt. If any borrowers are due to repay and are not doing so, the SLC will continue to recover arrears and outstanding balances until the loan(s) expire. The SLC will pursue any such borrowers through the courts if necessary.
	At the SLC, loan cancellations due to bankruptcy do not occur when the borrower notifies the SLC but when the SLC processes the cancellation, i.e. when the SLC obtains evidence of the concluded bankruptcy from the borrower's elected legal practitioner. Provisions were included in the Higher Education Act 2004 to prevent student loans being written off on bankruptcy, so since then, loans have only been written off on bankruptcy which occurred prior to this legislation, the processing of which concluded more recently.
	In financial year 2009-10, the latest year for which figures are available, approximately £1.4 million was cancelled due to bankruptcy, for approximately 300 borrowers. We cannot separately identify the nationality of those borrowers.

Overseas Trade

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the UK's share of world trade in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: UK trade has increased by 55% in real terms between 1998 and 2008. However the UK's relative share of world trade has declined over the same period from 5.7% in 1998 to 3.9% in 2008.
	Our recent Trade and Investment White Paper, published in February 2011, set out our strategy to improve the UK's trade performance. The strategy has already begun to be implemented and work will continue over the coming months and years.
	The White Paper announced that UK Trade and Investment's new strategy will focus on encouraging more innovative and high growth of small and medium businesses (SMEs) to export and focus on high growth and emerging markets. To support SMEs in particular, the White Paper also announced an expanded and better co-ordinated package of trade finance products on a pilot scheme basis which will be launched by April 2011.
	We will continue to boost open trade, which will enable UK businesses to export more easily, through the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round, completion of bilateral trade agreements and strengthening of the Single Market Act.
	My noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment chairs the Economic Affairs Cabinet Sub Committee on Trade and Investment. This Committee will drive the implementation of the strategy, using its regular meetings to monitor progress and shape the emerging policies.

Post Bank

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 833W, on the Post Office: bank services, what estimate he has made of the minimum cost of establishing a Post Bank.

Edward Davey: As set out in my previous answer to the hon. Member on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column reference 883W, the costs of establishing a Post Bank would be determined by its operational remit and scale. As such the Government are not able to identify a minimum cost of establishing a Post Bank.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what access criteria he has agreed with Post Office Ltd for the main post offices it has committed to provide by the end of the current Parliament.

Edward Davey: Under the terms of its funding from Government, Post Office Ltd has committed to adhere to the strict access criteria already in place. These will continue to apply across the whole of the network, ensuring that 99% of the population will live within three miles of a post office branch. Main post offices will typically tend to be located in town and city centres, where the access criteria are even more stringent-95% of the urban population must be within one mile of a post office branch.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which post offices will be main post offices by the end of the current Parliament; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of the UK population which will be within  (a) three miles and  (b) six miles of a main Post Office.

Edward Davey: Post Office Ltd is in the process of planning the location and distribution of the 4,000 main post offices it will have in place by the end of this Parliament.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which post offices are to be converted into Post Office Locals by the end of the current Parliament; and how many of these will offer a narrower range of products as a result of the conversion.

Edward Davey: Post Office Ltd is currently piloting the Post Office Local model in some 60 locations across the UK. Final decision over the precise nature of services to be offered in Post Office Locals will be made by Post Office Ltd, informed by the results of these pilots. Recent research by Consumer Focus shows that 86% of existing post office services, equating to over 95% of consumer transactions by volume are already available in Post Office Local pilots. The national implementation of the Local model will begin in 2014, with around 2,000 Local branches by the end of this Parliament.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which services offered by  (a) Crown Post Offices and  (b) sub-post offices are not offered by a Post Office essentials service.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments are made to  (a) sub-postmasters and  (b) providers of Post Office essentials services by Post Office Ltd.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what compensation payments have been made to sub-postmasters for converting to Post Office Locals services as part of the Post Office Locals trial.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, column 742W, on the Post Office: modernisation, whether there are any additional conditions on the use of the funding package for 2011-15.

Edward Davey: The Government's £1.34 billion funding to modernise the Post Office network to safeguard its future includes as a condition a commitment from Post Office Ltd to maintain the network at its current size of at least 11,500 branches. Post Office Ltd will also continue to adhere to the strict access criteria which ensure that 99% of the national population lives within three miles of a post office branch. This is in addition to the Government's commitment that there will be no programme of closures under this Government.

Regional Development Agencies: Assets

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of transferring regional development agency assets to local authorities and local enterprise partnerships;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the monetary value of each regional development agency's assets to be transferred to local authorities and local enterprise partnerships;
	(3)  which assets of each regional development agency he proposes to transfer to local authorities and local enterprise partnerships;
	(4)  if he will publish the proposals made by each regional development agency for the disposal of its assets.

Mark Prisk: Each regional development agency (RDA) has developed a detailed plan for the disposal of its assets and liabilities and the scrutiny of the plans is ongoing. That consideration has not yet been completed but a list of land and property assets has been approved for short term market sale in line with Managing Public Money which provides that disposals will be at market value; this list will be published shortly.
	We do not have a final estimate of what will go to local authorities or local enterprise partnerships. In line with my previous answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden) on 17 February 2011,  Official Report, column 984W, in many cases local authorities, and local enterprise partnerships will be given first refusal as they were the proposed recipient in the relevant asset and liability plan. The disposals will be made in a way that seeks to secure best value for the taxpayer and minimises cost. It is for RDAs to decide when and how to release the plans as they know which aspects of the plans are commercially sensitive. We support them in being as transparent as possible.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department had with  (a) research councils and  (b) local authorities before taking its decision on additional capital expenditure at Daresbury, Harwell and Cambridge.

David Willetts: holding answer 1 April 2011
	The Department asked the seven Research Councils to identify their highest scientific priorities for a one-off injection of capital in 2011/12 in the Budget. This did not involve consultation with local authorities.

Sector Skills Councils

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to review the role of sector skills councils in further education.

John Hayes: There are no plans for a specific review of the role of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in further education. The role of SSCs is changing and will increasingly focus on raising employer ambition and investment in skills. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UK CES) works with the SSCs to produce and utilise high quality sectoral labour market intelligence to reduce skill gaps, and to raise skill levels. This information helps to ensure that the further education sector provides accurate advice and guidance, as well as delivering qualifications relevant to the changing skill needs of the work force. In addition, SSCs have a central role in developing apprenticeship frameworks, and in enhancing the quality and accessibility of apprenticeships. The majority of SSCs also work closely with national skills academies to promote excellence in vocational training.

Students: Fees and Charges

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure differentiation in the level of tuition fees between higher education institutions whilst protecting the autonomy of those institutions.

David Willetts: No university wishing to charge over £6,000 yet knows for certain how much it will charge. This is because no university has yet signed an access agreement with the director of fair access. The guidance to the director of fair access makes clear that we expect universities to meet stringent conditions before they can charge above £6,000. However, the director is not a price regulator. What he will do is ensure that the levels of ambition of an institution's access agreement is proportionate to how much more than the basic level the institution intends to charge.
	We expect there to be a range of charges and those institutions discussing higher levels all look set to include substantial fee waivers for students from poorer backgrounds.

Teachers: Training

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to fund initial teacher training for teachers in further education colleges.

John Hayes: For 2011/12, Further Education Initial Teacher Training (FE ITT) courses delivered by higher education institutions will continue to be funded through HEFCE.
	In addition, BIS will continue to fund:
	ITT courses validated by and delivered for National Awarding Bodies, via the Skills Funding Agency;
	FE Fee Grants to support trainee teachers undertaking diploma level ITT on a part-time/in-service basis, provided to their employers via the Institute for Learning (IfL);
	a FE bursary scheme to attract and train high quality teachers to teach STEM subjects and literacy and numeracy skills.
	For 2012/13 onwards, new funding arrangements will be introduced for higher education so that funding follows the choices of individual students. We have recently asked the Association of Colleges (AoC) to lead a review of the future funding and delivery of FE Initial Teacher Training, working with other FE employer representative bodies and in consultation with wider FE stakeholders. We expect AoC to report findings to BIS by the end of May 2011.

Technology Strategy Board

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations his Department received on the role of the Technology Strategy Board in each month since 1 January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: I have regular interactions with officials, particularly the chief executive, of the Technology Strategy Board, but the Department has not had any other representations specifically on its role. The role of the Technology Strategy Board, and its programmes, such as establishing an elite network of Technology and Innovation Centres, is often raised however in the context of wider discussions with stakeholders on the Department's role in achieving strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.

Trade Agreements

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met (i) trade associations, (ii) charities and (iii) non-governmental organisations to discuss free trade agreements since his appointment.

Mark Prisk: Both Ministers and officials in this Department engage regularly with a wide range of stakeholders on the subject of those EU bilateral Free Trade Agreements under negotiation. This includes regular consultation with trade associations, charities and non-governmental organisations.

Training: English Language

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what methods he plans to use in his Department's equality impact assessment on the changes to English For Speakers of Other Languages funding; and what the name is of each group officials of his Department will consult as part of this process;
	(2)  whether he plans to consult with institutions that provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses on his Department's equality impact assessment on changes to ESOL course funding.

John Hayes: The equality impact assessment published alongside 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' (November 2010) found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes to skills funding may affect English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners is currently being carried out by the Department, and I expect to be able to publish the assessment in due course.
	The Department's equality impact assessment is drawing on published analytical information and on views offered to us in person or in writing by a wide range of organisations with an interest in this area, including correspondence from learners and their representatives and principals of further education colleges.

UK Trade and Investment: Official Hospitality

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) hospitality was received and  (b) expenses were incurred by each member of the board of UK Trade and Investment in each of the last three years.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 21 March 2011
	The information is as follows:
	 (a) UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) board members received hospitality as per the following table:
	
		
			  Summary of hospitality for UK board members-number of occasions 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Chief Executive
			 Breakfast 6 5 4 
			 Lunch 10 9 9 
			 Dinner 13 9 9 
			 Reception 10 10 18 
			 
			  Deputy/Acting Chief Executive
			 Lunch 1 2 3 
			 Dinner 1 1 5 
			 Reception 1 4 0 
			 
			  MD Sectors Group
			 Breakfast 1 0 7 
			 Lunch 4 12 10 
			 Dinner 6 9 13 
			 Reception 5 25 14 
			 
			  MD Marketing Group
			 Reception 1 0 0 
			 
			  MD Business Group
			 Lunch 3 3 12 
			 Dinner 0 5 5 
			 Reception(1) 0 0 3 
			 
			  MD Defence  and  Security Organisation
			 Breakfast 1 2 1 
			 Lunch 25 22 16 
			 Dinner(2) 13 30 14 
			 Reception 12 23 20 
			 Cultural event 1 1 0 
			 (1 )One occasion included accommodation. (2 )Two occasions included accommodation. 
		
	
	  (b) While UKTI records expenses claimed personally by each board member, UKTI does not centrally hold records of expenses that are incurred on their behalf by offices overseas. UKTI has offices in 162 locations across 96 countries. To obtain the information, for each executive board member, would involve tasking each office to review and collate their records and this can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Non-executive board members receive attendance expenses and these are disclosed annually in UKTI's Annual Report and Accounts (HC 3).

UK Trade and Investment: Private Sector

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking  (a) to increase awareness of private sector approaches and  (b) ensure that his Department makes effective use of private sector expertise with UK Trade and Investment; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is seeking to emulate the best of the private sector professional services organisations. It has developed a range of corporate training programmes to underpin new business methods, such as relationship building with the most significant inward investors and exporters. UKTI's aim is to develop innovative approaches to working with the private sector in order to raise the quality of its services, build successful relationships with trade and investment clients and to achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction.
	UKTI is a service delivery organisation and the use of private sector expertise is integral to the development and the delivery of these services. In addition, more than 200 senior business people help to shape and support UKTI's strategy and service delivery. 1,100, or 85% of people working in UKTI's trade teams overseas are locally engaged, and most of these have business experience. Trade and investment delivery services in England, apart from London, are outsourced to private sector organisations.

Unskilled Agency Workers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department provides to unskilled agency workers in the construction industry aged 16 to 24 to assist them in furthering their careers; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Government have a responsibility to ensure that all those who need additional help can increase their skills and progress. We fully fund training for young adults undertaking their first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification. And any adult who has a basic skills need is entitled to free training.
	The Government have put apprenticeships at the heart of the FE and Skills system and they are a key route for young people to enter and progress in the construction industry. We are committed to significant growth in the number of places available and the Construction Industrial Training Board (CITB) positively encourages young people to enter the industry by promoting their availability.
	The CITB also delivers strategic careers information, advice and guidance to careers professionals to ensure they are fully informed of the wide range of careers qualifications and progression routes available to young people across all occupations within the construction and built environment sector.

Visits: Salford

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise last visited Salford in a ministerial capacity.

Mark Prisk: Although I allocate considerable time to making regional visits, I have not unfortunately, been able to visit Salford, near Manchester yet. I have, however, recently visited the North East.

Vocational Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the contribution of vocational training and apprenticeships to the economy; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Research commissioned by the Department suggests that further education participants that started a qualification in 2008/09 will generate an additional £75 billion for the economy over their working lives. These benefits include increased wages and improved employment prospects for individuals, as well as benefits to employers stemming from increased productivity.
	This research examines the economic value generated by Government-funded post-19 qualifications-including apprenticeships, national vocational qualifications (NVQs) undertaken in college, training provider and workplace settings, and basic skills qualifications-and the full report can be accessed at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/research-analysis/research-reports/measuring-economic-impact-further-education